Well, I think the thread title sums it up, but I'll expand to make sure my question is clear.
What, exactly, does determinism mean? I've heard it described various ways, from the belief that the past determines the future with no room for deviation (what I call the "Dr. Manhattan position"), to the position that, while the past influences the future, we still have the ability to make free choices within the options presented to us. The latter description often posits that being aware of past influences actually increases our freedom of choice, because we can moderate how much past influences affect our choices.
Help, please?