The Theory of Will in Classical Antiquity

The Theory of Will in Classical Antiquity by Albrecht Dihle explores how ancient Greek and early Christian thinkers grappled with the problem of human volition, contrasting intellectualism with the Biblical and early Christian emphasis on obedience, divine command, and freedom of will. It provides an essential genealogy of a category central to medieval and modern thought, showing how Augustines theology of will built on—and broke with—classical traditions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Albrecht Dihle's The Theory of Will in Classical Antiquity explores the development of the concept of will in ancient Greek and early Christian thought. Beginning with cosmological frameworks in Galen and Celsus, Dihle shows how Greek philosophy resisted formulating a distinct theory of will, preferring to ground human action in knowledge, reason, and harmony with cosmic order. He contrasts this intellectualism with the Biblical and early Christian emphasis on obedience, divine command, and freedom of will, culminating in the pivotal innovations of St. Augustine. The book brings together philosophy, theology, and classical philology to map the slow but decisive emergence of will as a concept distinct from reason and desire. Dihle demonstrates how debates among Platonists, Stoics, and early Christian authors shaped Western notions of freedom, responsibility, and moral agency. Richly erudite yet accessible, the book provides an essential genealogy of a category central to medieval and modern thought, showing how Augustines theology of will built on—and broke with—classical traditions. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates the University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1982.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520308602