Abstract

GOMEZ ESPINDOLA, Laura Liliana. Freedom of action and change of character in Aristotle. discus.filos [online]. 2013, vol.14, n.23, pp.205-217. ISSN 0124-6127.

This article aims at demonstrating that, according to Aristotle, humans have freedom of action as well as the ability to change their character all throughout their life. In order to show this, this paper is divided in two parts. The first part shows that our moral dispositions incline us to perform actions of the same moral quality, but that it is still possible for us to perform actions with a moral quality opposite to those dispositions and, because of this, we can undertake the task of modifying our character. The second part shows how people, in as much as they are controlling principles of things that admit being otherwise, have in a single moment the possibility to perform alternative actions, this being precisely what I call 'freedom of action'.

Keywords : Aristotle; character; control; determinism; freedom.

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