This excerpt, part of a longer series, argues that the idea of free will is an illusion. The core of the argument is the "causa sui problem," suggesting that to be truly responsible for our actions, we would need to be the cause of ourselves, which is impossible. It posits that our choices and identity are products of genetics, environment, and experience, not conscious design. The text asserts that even acts of reflection or rebellion are conditioned responses, ultimately undermining the notion of self-authorship. Ultimately, it concludes that without being the origin of ourselves, we cannot be held ultimately responsible for our virtues or vices.https://philosophics.blog/2025/04/27/unwilling-steelman-part-v/