this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2024
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96
Assuming we don't have free will, why do we have the illusion that we do? (slrpnk.net)
submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by frankPodmore@slrpnk.net to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
129 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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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[–] NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (4 children)

If I found out that I don't have free will, I would start trying to gain it back immediately.

[–] 1stTime4MeInMCU@mander.xyz 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

What if you found out that free will is an inherently flawed concept and therefore impossible to conclusively obtain

[–] NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world -1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

if you found out that free will is an inherently flawed concept

I also cannot imagine finding out that the hole in my ass is bigger than I am.

[–] Infynis@midwest.social 6 points 4 months ago

Then I have some bad news for you, about calculating the interior volume of a cylinder. You've got a lot of hole coiled up inside you

[–] Glowstick@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

What if you never had it and never can have it because its not a havable thing

[–] kubica@fedia.io 1 points 4 months ago

The destiny making you pretend that you are trying to gain free will must be on a list of the evilest things.