# Would you give up free will for world peace?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-give-up-free-will-for-world-peace/990800>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 28, 2023, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-give-up-free-will-for-world-peace/990800 "2023-09-28T01:17:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 300

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**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2023, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-give-up-free-will-for-world-peace/990800/300 "2023-10-04T17:32:31Z")

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> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#):
>
> The argument from selection aims to _explain why_ we have the illusion of free will, by pointing out that it gives a selection benefit. If there are other mental states giving the same benefit, the argument fails.

False.

First of all, it’s a bit misleading to be describing this in terms of mental states: we’re talking about a _disposition_ towards a particular mental state. Something baked in, not transient.

And this is why your argument fails. You’re saying that vision cannot have adaptive benefit if you can conceive of some other thing, let’s say echolocation, that would have been equally useful in a given environment. Well, that logic doesn’t follow at all. Evolution doesn’t care about a solution being unique.

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