Abstract
Weakness of will (akrasia) continues to be actively discussed in the Renaissance and the Reformation. Important treatises are written by John Buridan, Petrarch, John Mair, Josse Clichtove, Joachim Camerarius, Francesco Piccolomini, and Lambert Daneau. The dominant Aristotelian framework is complemented by Neo-Stoic and Platonic considerations. Increasingly voluntarist interpretations gain ground, stressing the “clear-eyed” nature of some akratic choices. While the practical syllogism continues to be employed, its overall significance for the explanation of human action decreases. Typical of early modern discussions is an inner wrestling between various rational arguments, or between reason and emotional perturbations, or between spiritual and carnal aspects of humanity. The uncertainty of human knowledge and the decisive importance of particular facts are emphasized more strongly than in classical and medieval discussions.
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References
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Saarinen, R. (2017). Weakness of Will. In: Sgarbi, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Renaissance Philosophy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02848-4_210-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02848-4_210-2
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Will in Renaissance Philosophy, Weakness of- Published:
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02848-4_210-3
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Weakness of Will
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02848-4_210-2
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Weakness of Will- Published:
- 14 June 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02848-4_210-1