Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 21:83 (Jul 1864)
Article: Whedon On The Will
Author: F. H. Newhall

BSac 21:83 (July 1864) p. 634

Whedon On The Will1

F. H. Newhall

The deepest and most fascinating problems of philosophy-arise from the struggle, or rather the antithesis, between our moral and intellectual faculties. The loftiest and pro-foundest speculations of which human nature is capable, have been elicited, the highest powers of the very mightiest sons of men have been taxed to the utmost tension, to harmonize man’s logical deductions with his moral intuitions. In fact, it is the instinctive effort for this harmony that has given rise to the whole fabric of metaphysical theology.

The work of Dr. Whedon is one more contribution towards the settlement of one form of this manifold problem, namely, “the reconciliation of the sense of responsibility with our intellectual conclusions concerning the nature of choice” (Preface). Although for many ages this problem has been slowly approximating solution, yet the sphinx still propounds her riddle, and devours the souls of men. Dr. Whedon does not step forth as the Oedipus that is to

BSac 21:83 (July 1864) p. 635

silence the ancient sibyl forever, but expresses the modest belief that he has “brought the difficulty nearer to a solution.” Before discussing the views presented in the work before us, it may be well briefly to review modern philosophical opinion upon this subject. Perhaps the problem around which has raged this far-resounding conflict, may be most concisely stated in terms like these: “How can man’s will be free, and yet his volitions be effects?” All who are interested in this discussion admitting not only human freedom, but also the axiom that every event must have its cause, and that volitions being events, must in some way come under this axiom, feel the necessity of so defining freedom on the one hand, or causation on the other, as to show an otherwise inevitable contradiction. Those who have taken their position on the intuition of freedom, and have endeavored to explain the axiom of causation from that point of view, we here designate Freedomists; while those who follow the reverse process, taking ground on the axiom of causation, and viewing the intuition of freedom from that point of view, we style Necessitarians. Of course this phraseology is not intended to assume the chief point in discussion, namely, that the latter party all deny, or that the former exclusively maintain, man’s volitional liberty.

Necessitarianism

Hobbes, the philosopher of Malmesbury, who has been called the father of English psychology, leads the array of English necessitarians. Starting from the above-mentioned axiom of causation, he held that the will is inevitably decided by the strongest motived.You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe