A History of “Will” with Guest Eva Brann (Part One)

We discuss Un-Willing: An Inquiry into the Rise of Will'’s Power and an Attempt to Undo It (2014) with the author, covering Socrates, Augustine, Aquinas, Heidegger, Nietzsche, Sartre, compatibilism, the neurologists' critque of free will, and more.

What is the will? Is it an obvious thing that we all can see in ourselves when introspecting? If so, then why is there so much disagreement in the literature about what it is? (e.g., Is it a causal force or just an epiphenomenon? Is it opposed to desire or the expression of desire? Is it an expression of individuality or is it a trans-personal force à la Schopenhauer?)

Eva (whom you may recall from our Heraclitus episode) thinks that the notion is a historical artifact that causes needless philosophical confusion, and worse, has had a damaging effect on our culture. #will #brann #compatibilism #augustine #heidegger Go to the blog: http://www.partiallyexaminedlife.com/2015/07/27/ep120-1-brann/