If we didn't have free will, what would the purpose of consciousness be?

Answer 1

Human beings are evolved life forms, more or less gracefully slipping into our environmental niche. We are material creatures built from the same substrate of every other thing with which we are acquainted. This essential substrate, when built over the ages by the more or less "intelligent" process of natural selection on the median level of our existence (bigger than atoms and smaller than galaxies) becomes a squishy, suspicious, confused, constrained, emotional little consciousness.

Strictly speaking it is not a proper question to ask what the purpose of consciousness is, as consciousness does not exist in the same way as a snail or a rock or an Eva Mendes does. Consciousness is an internal proprioceptive feature of some advanced, complex, real time, information-processing systems, of which we are the prime example. However, most of us do understand something by the question, so I will respond to it as I interpret your question as asking for...

Basically, the "purpose" of consciousness is: to efficiently but effectively make beings survive and propagate. Evolution always looks for the most efficient manner to achieve these goals. Emotions, subjective experiences, pains, and those sorts of things that people use to define what they consider to be "consciousness" are actually informational short-cuts to help the organism satisfy its needs.

As we can see by how effortlessly the human brain can surpass solid-state computing technology in many areas (pattern seeking, response to environment, society building etc), but be trounced by computers in some tasks (memory, transfer speed, math, etc): we are designed as survival machines.

The purpose of consciousness can be construed as: an evolutionarily developed short-cut to a very efficient information processing tool, best used for survival and propagation purposes. This is an explanation that includes no requirement of free-will, so consciousness CAN have a definable purpose without the necessity of such a myth.

Answer 2

Same question occured to me does consciousness have to have a purpose. However, Aristotle believed that everything has a purpose, and he was a pretty smart dude. So if consciousness does in fact have a purpose, I believe that necessitates that we have free will. In less of course 'god' placed us into the passive roll of mere observers. All the world being a stage and what-not... Ahhhh but wait, is not observation or even inaction an action in and of itself. Time to chew it over with a twix bar.

Answer 3

without free will there is no purpose of consciousness because were just going to sit there everyday being told what to do without being able to show how much of a difference we could make in the world!

Answer 4

Need consciousness have a purpose?

Answer 5

Failing to go beyond the will concept, what remains is hope.

The Erikson life-stage virtues, in the order of the stages in which they may be acquired, are:

hope
will
purpose
competence
fidelity
love (in intimate relationships, work and family)
caring
wisdom

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erick_Erickson

Answer 6

Firstly, how do you know we have free will?

Secondly, your question seems to indicate that, to you, a lack of control implies futility. It's like saying, "Why should I go to a movie if I can't write the ending?" or "Why should I fly in a plane if I'm not the pilot?" Control is not the highest good, is it? Can we not enjoy a show or ride, even if we are knowingly (or unknowingly) not in control?

Answer 7

we do not have free will, we have the glorious illusion of free will.

we are like bossy back seat drivers, but we never have the wheel.

how many times has your life proven clearly that you are not in charge? how frustrating is it to still cling to the delusion of being the doer, when things clearly are just happening regardless of our beliefs?

truly there is only consciousness, expressing itself through us.
consciousness has no purpose, it simply is.

Answer 8

It needs not a purpose. There's no point in life perpetuating itself either.

Answer 9

"Puropse" can be defined as the ends to which an object or talent is put to use; therefore, to what end would consiousness be put to use?

Answer 10

I suppose it would still be to experience and have companionship with GOD,..