ABSTRACT
What do they mean by this ? (a) Some mean that the will is self-caused: ‘I will because I will to will.’ (b) Others define acts of will in such a manner that the will has no cause at all, either
within me or without. (c) A third group is of the opinion that, although the will is caused, the causes are not
such that the effects occur necessarily and without exception. Circumstances may arise which, without the addition of further conditions, could have a certain act of will as an immediate effect; yet it is possible, under these same circumstances, for the act of will not to take place. Furthermore, even if it did take place, it would still be the case that it did not have to take place. The will, they claim, is different from, say, a physical body, where all the conditions are stipulated if it is to move in a certain direction at a certain speed. Given the relevant circumstances, the body has to move. But the will, given the sufficient conditions, sometimes acts and sometimes does not.
