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Full Idea
Our merely willing to walk has the consequence that our legs move and we walk.
Gist of Idea
Merely willing to walk leads to our walking
Source
René Descartes (The Passions of the Soul [1649], 18), quoted by Rowland Stout - Action 1 'Volitionism'
Book Ref
Stout,Rowland: 'Action' [Acumen 2005], p.8
A Reaction
Stout attributes this to Descartes' dualism, as if legs are separate from persons. Stout says the idea of a prior mental act is not usually now considered as part of an action, or even to exist at all. If the volition is intentional, there is a regress.
20304 | The cause of my action is in my will [Shakespeare] |
20037 | Merely willing to walk leads to our walking [Descartes] |
4552 | There is no such things a pure 'willing' on its own; the aim must always be part of it [Nietzsche] |
20038 | If the action of walking is just an act of will, then movement of the legs seems irrelevant [Stout,R] |