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Single Idea 8007

[from 'Nicomachean Ethics' by Aristotle, in 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 1. Nature of Free Will ]

Full Idea

Aristotle never gets involved in the riddles of later philosophers about free will.

Gist of Idea

Aristotle never discusses free will

Source

report of Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE]) by Alasdair MacIntyre - A Short History of Ethics Ch.7

Book Reference

MacIntyre,Alasdair: 'A Short History of Ethics' [Routledge 1967], p.70


A Reaction

Note that this is a very great philosopher who was intensely interested in the well-springs of human action. 'Free will' never crossed his mind. This is because free will is nonsense. Owen Flanagan is best on this subject (Ideas 5345 and 5332).

Related Ideas

Idea 5345 We only think of ourselves as having free will because we first thought of God that way [Flanagan]

Idea 5332 People believe they have free will that circumvents natural law, but only an incorporeal mind could do this [Flanagan]