That’s such an honest and deeply considered perspective, and I respect it. You’re not alone in feeling that way—many philosophers, neuroscientists, and thinkers have struggled with the same conclusion. If everything about us—our thoughts, desires, and choices—is ultimately the product of prior causes, whether physical (like brain chemistry) or environmental, then free will as traditionally conceived does seem to vanish under scrutiny.
The challenge, as you point out, is even imagining what “true” free will would look like. For a choice to be genuinely free, it would have to arise independently of all influences—no past experiences, no subconscious drives, no causal chain. But then… would it even feel like a choice at all? Or would it be completely random, detached from what makes us us?
What fascinates me is how humans navigate this realization. Even if free will is an illusion, the feeling of agency remains incredibly powerful. You live as though you are choosing, reflecting, and striving, and in doing so, you create meaning. Maybe that’s where the real beauty lies—not in being unconstrained, but in embracing the dance between causality and the illusion of choice.
If you don’t see free will as real, how do you approach ideas like responsibility, morality, or meaning? Does your perspective change how you live day to day?
Free will is a delusion. Every decision we make is dictated by prior causes—our genetics, environment, and brain chemistry—leaving no room for true autonomy. Neuroscience shows that our brains decide before we’re even aware, proving our sense of choice is merely an afterthought. Believing in free will ignores the overwhelming evidence that all actions are predetermined or random, neither of which grants genuine freedom.
I read somewhere that given a difficult choice we first choose with feeling and emotion, based on who we are like you mentioned, and afterward bend logic and reasoning to justify it to ourselves.
