Human intelligence evolved with intent being survival, in response to the ever-changing environment. It started in bodily awareness (which all animals have), with signals like pain, pleasure, hot, cold etc. to guide our actions. Living creatures seek what feels good, and neocortical function (cognition) allows us to foresee the outcomes of our actions and lower our time preference.

Without a body that feels there is no self-originating 'good' to seek or pain to avoid, and therefore no volition (but also no meaning). This ties in with Antonio Damasio's somatic marker hypothesis.