A Free Will: Origins of the Notion in Ancient Thought (Sather Classical Lectures, Vol. 68) (Volume 68)

Where does the notion of free will come from? How and when did it develop, and what did that development involve? In Michael Frede's radically new account of the history of this idea, the notion of a free will emerged from powerful assumptions about the relation between divine providence, correctness of individual choice, and self-enslavement due to incorrect choice. Anchoring his discussion in Stoicism, Frede begins with Aristotle--who, he argues, had no notion of a free will--and ends with Augustine. Frede shows that Augustine, far from originating the idea (as is often claimed), derived most of his thinking about it from the Stoicism developed by Epictetus. Where does the notion of free will come from? How and when did it develop, and what did that development involve? In Michael Frede's radically new account of the history of this idea, the notion of a free will emerged from powerful assumptions about the relation between divine providence, correctness of individual choice, and self-enslavement due to incorrect choice. Anchoring his discussion in Stoicism, Frede begins with Aristotle--who, he argues, had no notion of a free will--and ends with Augustine. Frede shows that Augustine, far from originating the idea (as is often claimed), derived most of his thinking about it from the Stoicism developed by Epictetus. - Publisher. Introduction Aristotle on choice without a will The emergence of a notion of will in Stoicism Later Platonist and Peripatetic contributions The emergence of a notion of a free will in Stoicism Platonist and Peripatetic criticisms and responses An early Christian view on a free will : Origen Reactions to the Stoic notion of a free will : Plotinus Augustine : a radically new notion of a free will? Conclusion Where does the notion of free will come from? How and when did it develop, and what did that development involve? This title states that the notion of a free will emerged from powerful assumptions about the relation between divine providence, correctness of individual choice, and self-enslavement due to incorrect choice. Where does the notion of free will come from? How and when did it develop, and what did that development involve? Here, the author provides a radical new account of the history of this idea