My ex, the behaviorist, believed that we don't really even THINK--we merely respond to stimuli. Come to THINK of it, there is a damned good reason that he is an ex!

The only real reason that the Enlightenment idea of conscious individuals is worth defending is because the current thinking (for which there appears to be substantial evidence) has the nasty political effect of appearing to encourage an abdication of responsibility.

Just because conscious awareness is an illusion, it does not mean that we are necessarily devoid of decision making abilities, although even if we are, we get the experience of being self aware and being in control so we may as well behave as thought we are.

Yes, it is important to remember that the human will has political freedom to shape history. On the other hand, the 'free will/determinism' debate is hardly new, and in exercising our will we should welcome reminders of the limits of freedom and the limits of our understanding of the human condition.
I think there is an unpleasant denial of individual responsibility abroad in day to day life, some seem always to have something or someone else to blame for their misdeeds. This, though, is a different issue.
Conscious awareness, of course, is not an illusion nor does the article claim this, but I guess you would have serious problems if your partner thought that none of us think!