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Single Idea 24320

[catalogued under 20. Action / B. Preliminaries of Action / 2. Willed Action / c. Agent causation]

Full Idea

An involuntary action seems to come about because of force or ignorance. What is forced has a starting-point that comes from outside, …where the agent or the one affected contributes nothing, as when wind or controlling people take him off somewhere.

Gist of Idea

Involuntary actions arise from force or ignorance, with the agent contributing nothing

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1109b35)

A Reaction

Note that an action has a 'starting-point', but this can't be seen as free will (any more than any event has a starting-point). Severe kleptomania seems to be involuntary, despite having an interior starting point. What 'contributes' it?

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Nicomachean Ethics', ed/tr. Reeve, C.D.C. [Hackett 2024], p.35