Single Idea 1856

[catalogued under 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 4. For Free Will]

Full Idea

Nothing can be willed except good, but many and various things are good, and you can't conclude from this that wills are compelled to choose this or that one.

Gist of Idea

Nothing can be willed except what is good, but good is very varied, and so choices are unpredictable

Source

Thomas Aquinas (Quaestiones Disputatae de Malo [1271], Q6.h to 05)

Book Reference

Aquinas,Thomas: 'Selected Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. McDermott,Timothy [OUP 1993], p.181