The Doctrine of the Will, Determined by an Appeal to Consciousness

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Wiley and Putnam, 1840 - Free will and determinism - 318 pages

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Page 206 - Paul enjoin any thing more contrary to nature than the excision of a right hand, or the plucking out of a right eye...
Page 154 - The will, and the affections of the soul, are not two faculties; the affections are not essentially distinct from the will, nor do they differ from the mere actings of the will, and inclination of the soul, but only in the liveliness and sensibleness of exercise.
Page 209 - To give some instances of this moral Inability. ...A woman of great honor and chastity may have a moral Inability to prostitute herself to her slave. A child of great love and duty to his parents, may be unable to be willing to kill his father. A very lascivious man, in case of certain opportunities and temptations, and in the absence of such and such restraints, may be unable to forbear gratifying his lust. A...
Page 238 - There are who ask not if thine eye Be on them ; who, in love and truth, Where no misgiving is, rely Upon the genial sense of youth : Glad Hearts I without reproach or blot ; Who do thy work, and know it not : Oh ! if through confidence misplaced They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power ! around them cast.
Page 73 - I will endeavour to explain. Volition, or the primary nisus, is the first action, or the first going forth of cause to effect : choice, as used in contradistinction to volition, precedes the primary nisus, and is equivalent to predetermination or intention.
Page 261 - ... pulls a trigger, or seals a despatch ? It is obvious that throughout all his operations, in marches and encampments, and sieges and battles, he calculates as fully on the volitions of his men as on the strength of his fortifications or the powers of his batteries.
Page 1 - ... has of its own operations. In knowing, it knows that it knows. In experiencing emotions and passions, it knows that it experiences them. In willing, or exercising acts of causality, it knows that it wills or exercises such acts. This is the common, universal, and spontaneous consciousness." . . . " By consciousness more nicely and accurately defined, we mean the power and act of self-recognition : not if you please, the mind knowing its knowledges, emotions, and volitions ; but the mind knowing...
Page 73 - The choice precedes the actual volition, or nisus, by which I take the fruit; it is the determination what to do when the moment of action shall have come." * * * " I may form a purpose or determination, or in other words make a choice, years before the time for exerting the nisus which is to accomplish it.
Page 82 - Let the person come by his volition or choice how he will, yet, if he is able, and there is nothing in the way to hinder his pursuing and executing his will, the man is fully and perfectly free, according to the primary and common notion of freedom.

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