Single Idea 4170

[catalogued under 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / a. Determinism]

Full Idea

Man's action have been interpreted as free, which they are not, for every individual action follows with strict necessity from the impact of motive on character.

Gist of Idea

Man's actions are not free, because they follow strictly from impact of motive on character

Source

Arthur Schopenhauer (The World as Will and Idea [1819], II 023)

Book Reference

Schopenhauer,Arthur: 'The World as Will and Idea', ed/tr. Berman,Jill and David [Everyman 1995], p.45


A Reaction

If 'character is fate' (Heraclitus) then presumably motive must also be fate to complete the determinist picture. I shall spend the next year redesigning my motivation.