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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."