Questão 96542

The philosophical treatise argued that human consciousness is a mere epiphenomenon of neural processes. The author posits that free will is an illusion, a post-hoc rationalization of deterministic brain activity. Consequently, the entire framework of moral responsibility, as traditionally understood, is rendered baseless. The legal and social ramifications of such a conclusion are profound, challenging the very foundations of retributive justice and personal accountability. The text does not shy away from these implications, instead exploring them with rigorous, albeit unsettling, logic.

Which discourse marker most precisely fills the blank, indicating a logical conclusion derived directly from the preceding premises?