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Work #1064 · Mature

On Free Will

Anselm of Canterbury
c. 1080-85 · Latin
Philosophical dialogue · Medieval Latin theology

Free will as the power to preserve rightness of will for its own sake — Anselm's distinctive medieval definition

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute On Free Will (Mature)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Active
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Personal
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method —
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Discrete

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

⧖

Time

On Free Will

The temporal moral life of the free creature.

✦

Space

On Free Will

The interior space of the will and its rightness.

◉

Matter

On Free Will

The embodied rational creature whose will is in question.

◎

Observer

On Free Will

The rational moral agent.

⚡

Energy

On Free Will

The energy of the will preserving rightness.

⧉

Information

On Free Will

The careful definition of freedom; the analysis of will's capacities.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

On Free Will

Anselm's definition has been variously assessed — defenders see its distinctive philosophical depth, critics see it as too narrow to cover ordinary uses of "free will."