Description
Phenomenology of the Will
Book Summary
In this fundamental work, Alexander Pfänder delves into the heart of human action to unravel the mechanisms of willing. Far from being an abstract treatise, the book offers a rigorous and accessible analysis of appetitive phenomena, distinguishing between desire and will in the strict sense. The reader will find a profound exploration of how our motivations arise and what role reasons, rather than causes, play in our voluntary resolutions. An essential read for those seeking to understand the foundations of moral psychology and philosophical anthropology from a classical phenomenological perspective.
What is it about?
The book is structured around a detailed analysis of the volitional life. Pfänder begins by examining "willing in the broad sense," which he identifies with desire, then moves on to "willing in the strict sense," which is the will properly speaking. Throughout its pages, the author deconstructs these phenomena to show their essential structures. A central point of the work is the discussion on motives and motivation. Pfänder argues that motives do not act as mechanical causes that determine our conduct, but as reasons or grounds that guide it. This distinction is key to understanding freedom and moral responsibility, offering a vision of the will as an active capacity for choice based on rational deliberation.
Main Topics
- Phenomenological analysis of the will and desire.
- Distinction between willing in the broad sense (desire) and willing in the strict sense (will).
- Nature of motives as reasons rather than determining causes.
- Phenomenology of motivation and voluntary resolution.
- Anthropological and moral foundations of human action.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at students and professionals of philosophy, especially those interested in phenomenology, philosophy of mind, and ethics. It will also be of great value to psychologists and scholars of moral psychology who seek a rigorous philosophical approach to the will. Likewise, any reader with intellectual interests regarding the nature of decision-making, motivation, and free will will find this work to be a profound and enlightening analysis.
What this book contributes
- A clear and systematic understanding of the difference between desire and will.
- A rigorous analysis of how motives function as reasons for action, not as simple causes.
- A solid foundation for reflecting on freedom, responsibility, and decision-making.
- A classical phenomenological perspective that enriches the study of psychology and philosophical anthropology.
Technical Specifications
- Author: ALEXANDER PFÄNDER
- Publisher: AVARIGANI EDITORES S A
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: LITERARY ESSAYS, PHILOSOPHY, SELF-HELP AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Collection: ESSAY
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: October 2011
- Number of pages: 240
- Weight: 290 g
Editorial Assessment
This work by Alexander Pfänder presents itself as a reference text within classical phenomenology. Its value lies in the clarity with which it addresses a complex topic such as the will, offering precise conceptual distinctions that are highly useful for academic study. For the reader interested in philosophy of mind or ethics, this book provides the necessary tools for a rigorous analysis of human motivation, moving away from purely mechanistic explanations. It is, without a doubt, a valuable addition to any philosophy library.