Single Idea 5338

[catalogued under 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 1. Nature of Free Will]

Full Idea

The standard view of free will is that I have something like complete control over what I do. A stronger view (not widely held) is that I also have complete control over what I think and what I feel.

Gist of Idea

Normal free will claims control of what I do, but a stronger view claims control of thought and feeling

Source

Owen Flanagan (The Problem of the Soul [2002], p. 60n)

Book Reference

Flanagan,Owen: 'The Problem of the Soul' [Basic Books 2003], p.60


A Reaction

To claim free control of feelings looks optimistic, but it does look as if we can decide to think about something, such as a philosophical problem. Deciding what to say comes somewhere between thought and action.