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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.
| 4015 | For Descartes passions are God-given preservers of the mind-body union [Descartes, by Taylor,C] |
| 4313 | Are there a few primary passions (say, joy, sadness and desire)? [Descartes, by Cottingham] |
| 4016 | Descartes makes strength of will the central virtue [Descartes, by Taylor,C] |
| 3654 | The pineal gland links soul to body, and unites the two symmetrical sides of the body [Descartes, by PG] |
| 20037 | Merely willing to walk leads to our walking [Descartes] |
| 23989 | There are six primitive passions: wonder, love, hatred, desire, joy and sadness [Descartes, by Goldie] |
| 16763 | We don't die because the soul departs; the soul departs because the organs cease functioning [Descartes] |