Medieval Will-Based Theory: Relationship Between Freedom And Free Will

The medieval will-based theory was a theory developed by medieval philosophers. This theory established a relationship between freedom and free will. Philosophers believed that our freedom to act was determined by our will, our capacity for decision making. In other words, our freedom of actions was based on our ability to decide and choose how to act. Therefore, making us completely free. These actions are known as voluntary actions, due to the fact that these actions can only be performed on the basis of us either wanting to do it or deciding to do it. For example, walking to the store. In order to perform this deliberate action, it relies on the basis of us deliberately deciding to walk. The decision causes for our legs to move in such a way that’s appropriate as if we were walking to the store. Therefore, this decision has the …show more content…
Hobbes did not believe in the soul. According to Hobbes, the free will itself does not have motivational power without the reinforcement of it’s corresponding desires. Hobbes believed that decision and intentions are simply forms of desire. In order for an action to occur, the human body must be overcome by a strong sense of desire, a desire so strong that we refuse to act otherwise and therefore resulting in us acting in a way to please this desire. For example, walking to the store is a result of being overcome by a very strong desire to go to the store, a desire so strong that it ensures you will walk to the store. This means that the will is not relevant to our actions. It’s the sense of desire and the need to please that desire that truly determines how someone is going to act. Therefore, having the ability to make a decision is no longer a deliberate action, something we have control over, instead it is a feeling of