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Full Idea
The will is not voluntary: for a man can no more say he will will, than he will will will, and so make an infinite repetition of the word 'will', which is absurd and insignificant.
Gist of Idea
A man cannot will to will, or will to will to will, so the idea of a voluntary will is absurd
Source
Thomas Hobbes (Human Nature [1640], Ch.XII.5)
Book Ref
'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 1', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.16
A Reaction
A nice simple point, allied to Nietzsche's notion that thoughts are uncontrollable (Idea 2291). Even Aquinas, who is quite a fan of free will, spotted the problem (Idea 1854). Personally I agree with Hobbes. Free will is a shibboleth.
Related Ideas
Idea 2291 A thought comes when 'it' wants, not when 'I' want [Nietzsche]
Idea 1854 We must admit that when the will is not willing something, the first movement to will must come from outside the will [Aquinas]
| 6212 | Lust involves pleasure, and also the sense of power in pleasing others [Hobbes] |
| 6211 | Laughter is a sudden glory in realising the infirmity of others, or our own formerly [Hobbes] |
| 6208 | Conceptions and apparitions are just motion in some internal substance of the head [Hobbes] |
| 6209 | There is no absolute good, for even the goodness of God is goodness to us [Hobbes] |
| 6210 | Life has no end (not even happiness), because we have desires, which presuppose a further end [Hobbes] |
| 6213 | A man cannot will to will, or will to will to will, so the idea of a voluntary will is absurd [Hobbes] |