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Assuming we don't have free will, why do we have the illusion that we do? (slrpnk.net)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Three possibilities come to mind:

Is there an evolutionary purpose?

Does it arise as a consequence of our mental activities, a sort of side effect of our thinking?

Is it given a priori (something we have to think in order to think at all)?

EDIT: Thanks for all the responses! Just one thing I saw come up a few times I'd like to address: a lot of people are asking 'Why assume this?' The answer is: it's purely rhetorical! That said, I'm happy with a well thought-out 'I dispute the premiss' answer.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

I think you've mischaracterized the arguments of the "no free will" camp, or at least omitted a major argument. You may find this interesting https://youtu.be/eELfSwqJNKU