The Indomitable Architect: The Role of Will in Moral Action (Duty)

The will stands as the ultimate architect of our moral landscape, the faculty through which we navigate the complex terrain of good and evil, and ultimately, choose to act from duty. It is not merely a passive desire but an active, deliberative force that determines our allegiance to moral principles. This article explores the profound role of the will in shaping our ethical conduct, particularly when confronted with the demands of duty, drawing insights from the enduring wisdom contained within the Great Books of the Western World.

The Will's Prerogative: A Foundation of Moral Agency

At the heart of any discussion on moral action lies the concept of the will. It is the seat of our autonomy, the power to choose, to assent, or to refuse. Without a free will, moral responsibility as we understand it would dissolve. Philosophers throughout history have grappled with its nature:

  • Plato, though not explicitly using "will" in the modern sense, understood the rational part of the soul as the charioteer guiding the spirited and appetitive parts towards the Good. The choice to align with reason is a precursor to the modern understanding of the will's role.
  • Aristotle emphasized deliberate choice (prohairesis) as central to virtue, implying an active faculty that weighs options and decides. This decision-making process is intrinsically tied to the will.
  • Saint Augustine profoundly explored the will's freedom, asserting its capacity for both good and evil. For Augustine, the will, created free, is the source of moral action, whether it chooses to love God or to succumb to lesser loves. Its role in original sin and redemption is paramount.

The will is thus not just a passive instrument but the very engine of our moral being, the power that translates intention into action.

Duty as the Guiding Star: The Will's Moral Compass

When we speak of duty, we introduce a specific constraint or imperative upon the will. To act from duty implies a recognition of moral obligation, irrespective of personal inclination or potential consequences.

Immanuel Kant and the Good Will

No philosopher articulated the role of the will in relation to duty more powerfully than Immanuel Kant. For Kant, the only thing that is good without qualification is a good will. A will is good not because of what it effects or accomplishes, but because it wills rightly, from duty.

Kant distinguished between:

  • Actions merely in accordance with duty: These actions might align with what duty requires, but are performed for some other motive (e.g., self-interest, sympathy).
  • Actions from duty: These are actions performed purely out of reverence for the moral law, because it is the right thing to do, regardless of personal feelings or expected outcomes.

(Image: A detailed depiction of a solitary figure standing at a crossroads, one path clearly marked "Duty" and the other "Inclination," with the figure's gaze fixed firmly on the "Duty" path, illuminated by a faint, internal light, symbolizing the will's resolve.)

The will's role here is to transcend selfish desires and act solely out of respect for the universal moral law. It is the will's determination to follow the categorical imperative – to act only on that maxim which you can at the same time will to become a universal law – that defines true moral worth.

The Interplay of Will and Duty

Aspect of Will Connection to Duty Outcome for Moral Action
Autonomy Freedom to choose to follow duty or not Responsibility for moral choices
Rationality Capacity to discern and understand moral law Enables acting from duty rather than mere impulse
Resolve Strength to overcome inclinations contrary to duty Persistence in ethical behavior, even when difficult

The will's ultimate role is to choose between good and evil. This choice is not always clear-cut, and the distinction has been debated for millennia.

  • For Plato and Aristotle, evil often stemmed from ignorance or a misdirection of the soul's parts, where the will (or its equivalent) failed to align with reason towards the true Good.
  • For Augustine, evil is a privation of good, a turning away of the will from God towards lesser, temporal goods. The will freely chooses this disordered love.
  • For Kant, to choose evil is to act on a maxim that cannot be universalized, to make an exception for oneself, thereby undermining the very foundation of morality. The will that chooses evil is a heteronomous will, guided by external inclinations rather than internal moral law.

The will is therefore the battleground where the forces of good and evil contend. Its role is to exert its freedom and reason to align with what is morally right, even when the path of duty is arduous.

The Enduring Challenge of the Will

Acting from duty is often challenging. It requires a strong, disciplined will to resist temptations, personal desires, and the allure of easier paths. The Great Books remind us that virtue is not innate but cultivated through practice, and this cultivation is fundamentally an exercise of the will. Whether it's the Stoic emphasis on controlling one's internal reactions, or the Christian call to continually choose righteousness, the will's steadfastness is paramount.

In essence, the will is not just an observer of our moral lives; it is the active participant, the decision-maker, and the executor of our moral commitments. Its role in embracing duty and distinguishing between good and evil is what defines us as moral agents.

YouTube: "Kant Good Will Duty Explained"
YouTube: "Augustine Free Will Evil"

Video by: The School of Life

💡 Want different videos? Search YouTube for: "The Role of Will in Moral Action (Duty) philosophy"

Share this post