An evolutionary perspective on free will and self-consciousness.

Abstract

The sense of free will is a consequence of having a brain with the capacity of rational thoughts and self-consciousness; that is, humans have the power of volition and agency. This sense of free will is underpinned by a true level of willfulness of behavior based on conscious (or cognitive) deliberation. Conscious deliberation is one of several strategies devised by evolution to execute behavior. Other strategies, such as reflexes and instincts, can be engaged simultaneously; our free will is therefore constrained by the relative dominance of the various strategies, as well as by the obvious limits of mental and physical abilities. The question of whether we have a free will may be answered by stating that we have a sufficient amount to choose "yes" or "no" as an answer; that is, we can set the arbitrary cutoff required to qualify either above or below the level of free will evolution happened to install. Our sense of free will is likely to exceed our actual capacity of willfulness. Conscious content needs to be generated by unconscious activity; but at the same time, conscious input is needed to make a cognitive decision. If the conscious input itself must be formed by the unconscious, which of the two comes first? The answer may reflect that of the chicken-or-egg-dilemma; conscious and unconscious activity develop gradually and interdependently culminating in the awareness of a willed decision.

The free will capacity: A uniquely human adaption.

“…As indicated by the GBM (see Figure 2), the answer is likely complicated. According to Grinde’s (2022) evolutionary analysis of FW,Conscious content needs to be generated by unconscious activity; but at the same time, conscious input is needed to make a cognitive decision. If the conscious input itself must be formed by the unconscious, which of the two comes first?…”

How people find better lifegoals: The goal breakthrough model and its neuroscientific underpinnings

“…Which comes first, top-down or bottom-up processes? This is a chicken-and-egg question (Grinde, 2022). The GBM specifies that both top-down processes (via CCN activity) and bottom-up processes (via DMN activity) occur, in either directional sequence (Hélie & Sun, 2010).…”

Consciousness: A Strategy for Behavioral Decisions

“…The more sophisticated forms of consciousness may also include an awareness of self. Animals that have all these tools also have a level of free will [5].…”