Single Idea 4552

[catalogued under 20. Action / B. Preliminaries of Action / 2. Willed Action / b. Volitionism]

Full Idea

There is no such thing as 'willing', but only willing something: one must not remove the aim from the total condition - as epistemologists do. 'Willing' as they understand it is as little a reality as 'thinking': it is a pure fiction.

Gist of Idea

There is no such things a pure 'willing' on its own; the aim must always be part of it

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (The Will to Power (notebooks) [1888], §668)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Will to Power', ed/tr. Kaufmann,W /Hollingdate,R [Vintage 1968], p.353


A Reaction

This is parallel to the common modern assertion that emotions also have intentional content, and cannot be understood as having a 'pure' identity.