"Free will is an illusion. People always choose the perceived path of greatest pleasure"

The assertion that “Free will is an illusion. People always choose the perceived path of greatest pleasure” suggests that human choice is less a matter of unfettered agency and more a function of psychological determinism. When making decisions, individuals believe they are acting autonomously but are, in fact, driven by internal mechanisms that calculate anticipated pleasure or satisfaction. The phrase “perceived path” is particularly important: it points to the subjectivity inherent in decision-making. People do not necessarily select what is objectively most pleasurable, but rather what seems to them, at that particular moment, to be the most rewarding or least painful option.

This view aligns with certain theories in psychology and neuroscience, which posit that behavior is a product of rational and irrational processes shaped by evolution, upbringing, and immediate context. Every action, from mundane tasks to life-altering choices, can be reduced to an internal cost-benefit analysis, even if it operates subconsciously. The notion of “illusion” arises because consciousness delivers post hoc rationalizations for decisions influenced by underlying desires or aversions. The sensation of free will comes from our ability to reflect and articulate our choices, but the mechanisms guiding those choices are largely opaque and automatic.

Furthermore, Adams' perspective connects with utilitarian philosophical traditions, which hold that human beings are governed by a pleasure-pain calculus. However, the complexity of pleasure, encompassing physical comfort, emotional satisfaction, social acceptance, or moral validation, means people can pursue vastly different actions while still seeking their greatest perceived benefit. Even actions perceived as self-sacrificial or altruistic may correspond with internal reward systems: a sense of belonging, inner peace, or avoidance of guilt can be powerfully pleasurable in their own way. In this framework, what we call moral decision-making or restraint does not escape the logic of pleasure; it simply operates within a more nuanced and personal pleasure matrix. Thus, Adams frames “free will” not as genuine autonomy, but as the subjective experience of following our preferences and pleasures as we perceive them in each moment.