The Indispensable Role of Will in Moral Action: A Journey Through Duty

The will stands as the cornerstone of moral action, serving as the crucial faculty that translates abstract principles of good and evil into concrete duty-bound choices. This article explores the profound role of the will across philosophical traditions, from ancient wisdom to modern ethical thought, highlighting its essential function in determining moral worth and shaping our understanding of duty. We will see how thinkers from the Great Books of the Western World have grappled with the will's power to choose, to act, and to define what it means to live a moral life.

Introduction: The Will as Moral Compass

At the heart of ethical philosophy lies the question of how we move from knowing what is right to actually doing it. This is where the will enters the stage, not merely as a passive desire, but as an active, deliberate force. It is the engine of our moral agency, determining our adherence to duty and our navigation of the complex landscape of good and evil. Without a functioning will, moral commands would remain inert, and our capacity for ethical responsibility would be severely diminished.

Ancient Roots: Will as Aspiration and Deliberate Choice

The concept of the will, though not always explicitly named as such, has deep roots in ancient Greek philosophy, often intertwined with reason and desire.

  • Plato's Rational Soul: In his Republic, Plato posits a tripartite soul, where the rational part, guided by intellect, strives to lead the spirited and appetitive parts towards the Good. While not using "will" in the Kantian sense, the rational soul's role is to assent to and pursue what reason dictates as truly good, demonstrating an active, volitional aspect in aligning oneself with virtue and justice. The will here is an aspiration, a drive towards the ideal.
  • Aristotle's Deliberate Choice (Prohairesis): Aristotle, in Nicomachean Ethics, provides a more direct precursor to the modern concept of will through his notion of prohairesis, or deliberate choice. For Aristotle, moral action isn't just about knowing the good, but about choosing it. Prohairesis is "deliberate desire," combining rational deliberation with an active desire for a specific end. It is through repeated virtuous choices, driven by this deliberate will, that one develops a virtuous character and fulfills one's duty to live well. The will is thus central to habituation and the pursuit of eudaimonia.

Medieval Reflections: Will, Choice, and Divine Law

The Abrahamic traditions profoundly deepened the understanding of the will, particularly concerning freedom, sin, and divine command.

  • Augustine's Free Will: Saint Augustine, in works like Confessions and City of God, foregrounded the concept of free will (liberum arbitrium). For Augustine, the will is the primary faculty responsible for moral action, and crucially, for sin. Our ability to choose good or evil stems from this inherent freedom. The will's role is to direct our love towards God (the ultimate Good) or away from Him, thereby determining our moral standing and our fulfillment of duty to divine law. Sin is a corruption of the will, turning it away from its proper object.
  • Aquinas's Rational Appetite: Thomas Aquinas, in Summa Theologica, integrated Aristotelian thought with Christian theology. He viewed the will as a "rational appetite"—it desires what the intellect perceives as good. The intellect presents options, and the will moves towards the chosen good. While the will is free to choose among particular goods, it is naturally inclined towards the universal Good (God). Moral duty for Aquinas involves choosing actions that align with natural law and eternal law, guided by a will directed by right reason.

The Enlightenment's Apex: Will, Duty, and the Moral Law

The modern era, particularly with Immanuel Kant, cemented the will's ultimate role as the sole determinant of moral worth, especially in relation to duty.

  • Kant's Good Will: In his Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant famously declares that "Nothing can possibly be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called good without qualification, except a good will." For Kant, the will is not good because of what it achieves, but because of its willing. The good will acts from duty, meaning it performs an action simply because it is the right thing to do, not out of inclination, fear, or desire for reward. The role of the will is to legislate moral law for itself through practical reason, leading to the Categorical Imperative.
    • Acting from Duty vs. In Accordance with Duty: This distinction is crucial. An action done in accordance with duty might look moral (e.g., a shopkeeper giving correct change), but if the motivation is self-interest (to maintain a good reputation), it lacks true moral worth. An action done from duty is motivated purely by respect for the moral law, demonstrating a good will. This is where the will determines the moral quality of an act, distinguishing between merely legal action and genuinely ethical conduct.
  • Autonomy of the Will: Kant emphasized the autonomy of the will—its capacity to be a law unto itself. Moral agents are free because their will is not determined by external forces or desires, but by their own rational self-legislation. This autonomy is what makes duty a matter of self-imposed obligation rather than external coercion.

(Image: A classical sculpture of a cloaked figure, possibly a philosopher, with one hand raised in a gesture of contemplation or choice, and the other hand resting on a stack of ancient scrolls or books. The figure's face shows deep thought, with a subtle furrow in the brow, suggesting the weight of moral decision. The background is a soft, diffused light, highlighting the figure's solitary but resolute presence.)

The Enduring Role of Will in Moral Action

Across these diverse philosophical landscapes, a consistent theme emerges: the will is not merely a passive recipient of moral commands but an active participant in their actualization. It is the bridge between abstract moral principles and the concrete reality of our choices.

The will's role is multifaceted:

  • Initiator of Action: It provides the impetus to act, moving us beyond mere contemplation.
  • Determinant of Moral Worth: As Kant showed, the will's motivation is often what truly defines an action as moral.
  • Struggler Against Inclination: The will frequently contends with desires and passions that might pull us away from our duty or the good.
  • Shaper of Character: Through repeated choices, the will gradually molds our moral character, making virtuous actions more natural over time.
  • Arbiter of Good and Evil: Ultimately, it is our will that makes the final choice between what we perceive as good and what we recognize as evil.

Key Philosophical Perspectives on Will and Duty

Philosopher Era Central Concept of Will Relationship to Duty Role in Good & Evil
Plato Ancient Rational soul's aspiration towards the Good Aligns with duties prescribed by reason for a just society Directs towards the ultimate Good, away from ignorance
Aristotle Ancient Deliberate Choice (Prohairesis) Essential for forming virtuous habits and fulfilling human telos Chooses virtuous mean, avoiding excess and deficiency
Augustine Medieval Free Will (Liberum Arbitrium) Central to fulfilling divine commands and loving God Chooses between loving God (Good) or self (Evil/Sin)
Aquinas Medieval Rational Appetite, moving towards perceived Good Follows natural and eternal law as interpreted by reason Chooses what intellect presents as Good, but can err
Immanuel Kant Modern Good Will, acting from respect for moral law Sole source of moral worth; acts from Categorical Imperative Solely determines moral worth, independent of consequences

Conclusion: The Imperative of a Good Will

From the teleological aspirations of the ancients to the divine imperatives of the medieval period, and finally to the categorical demands of modernity, the will has consistently been recognized for its indispensable role in moral action. It is the faculty that empowers us to choose, to deliberate, and to commit to our duty, even when faced with challenging circumstances.

The journey through the Great Books of the Western World reveals that whether viewed as an aspiration towards the Good, a deliberate choice shaping character, or the autonomous source of moral law, the will remains central to our understanding of ourselves as moral agents. To act morally, to truly fulfill our duty, requires not just knowing the difference between good and evil, but actively willing the good, embodying the profound and enduring power of a good will.

Video by: The School of Life

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Video by: The School of Life

💡 Want different videos? Search YouTube for: "Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics: Voluntary vs Involuntary Action and Choice"

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