ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the human will is a mental power of a very special kind, crucially involved in the genesis of philosophers' free actions. It points out the foregoing account of rational free agency in some detail, explaining both its terminology and its main principles. The chapter briefly outlines the chief features of a rival account of intentional agency that is dominant—the standard "causal" theory of action, which ultimately owes its inspiration to the ideas of Hume. A passive power is one whose manifestation or exercise always needs to be caused by one or more substances acting on its bearer. The power to roll and the power to crush are distinct powers, since they have distinct manifestations. Success or failure will depend on whether some other thing has a suitable passive power which can be "triggered" by the act of will in question.
