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Single Idea 24322

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions]

Full Idea

Of those people who act because of ignorance, the one who regrets what he did seems a contra-voluntary agent. The one who does not regret, let him be a 'non-voluntary' agent.

Gist of Idea

Call regretted ignorant acts 'contra-voluntary', but accepted such acts 'non-voluntary'

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1110b22)

A Reaction

That is (I think) that the contra-voluntary actions are not properly chosen (because of the ignorance), but the non-voluntary actions would have probably chosen even if there were no ignorance. We blame the non-voluntary ones.

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Nicomachean Ethics', ed/tr. Reeve, C.D.C. [Hackett 2024], p.36