Wills Of The Willing Analysis

Wills of the Willing Saint Thomas Aquinas, a renowned philosopher of the 13th century, once stated in The Summa Theologica that “if we speak of the will as a power, thus it extends both to the end and to the means” (l-ll, Q.8. Article 2). Aquinas’ goal through this quotation was to convey that a person’s will and motivation in life represents the only source of true happiness, and that a means to a certain end can only be achieved by taking control of a situation and having the strength to pull through. Throughout history, this concept of “will” has played a prominent role in government and the culture of different civilizations as the ancient Romans developed a government founded upon the will of the people, early colonial Americans founded …show more content…
The word “will” first originated from the Germanic language, and consequently transitioned to the Old English word “wyllan,” the German word “wollen,” and the Dutch word “willen” (“Will” etymonline.com). Will’s original meaning simply embodies a person’s wishes and desires, and the similar diction of these Old English, German, and Dutch equivalents exhibits the spread of Germanic and Saxon influence over regions previously occupied by the Roman Empire. However, by the Middle Ages, the word manifested into “willen” (“Will” Dictionary.com). This new interpretation of “will” began to convey a much more authoritative meaning and represented a “modal auxiliary expressing immediate intention: to have in mind” (“Middle English Dictionary Entry”). This historic interpretation of “will” also conveys the basis for the belief that the right to kingship was god-given. The will of the king served as the will for all and also represents the freedom of the aristocratic class of English citizens who were able to exercise their rights rather than having to obey commands; however, in contrast, serfs who had no self-autonomy, were unable to experience happiness and were subservient to the “will” of their lords. In contrast to the historical use of the word “will,” its modern derivation conveys “A person’s formal declaration of his intention as to the disposal of his property or other matters to be performed after his death” (“Will” Oxford English Dictionary). In comparison to its Middle English counterpart, where “will” ends at death and a new ruling dynasty takes over, modern interpretation of “will” lies within the perpetuation of the monetary value of a certain product and in the belief that decisions can have lasting effects even after death. However, both