Unwilling Steelman, Part II: Continuity and Identity

This writing challenges the conventional notion of self and free will, arguing that what we perceive as a stable identity is merely a continuous pattern of behaviour. The author suggests that moral responsibility, often linked to this perceived continuity, is a flawed concept as our actions are a result of conditioning and environmental factors, not conscious choice. Even attempts at self-improvement are seen as the product of existing circumstances, with our most noble and ignoble behaviours potentially being involuntary responses rather than deliberate acts of character. Ultimately, the text posits that the idea of a freely shaping self is an illusion, as we are simply accumulating experiences and structures based on what has come before.https://philosophics.blog/2025/04/24/unwilling-steelman-part-ii/