Innovation Humanities and Social Sciences Research (IHSSR)

Publisher:ISCCAC

A Review of the Development History of the Concept of "Free Will" and Its Metaphysical Implications
Volume 21, Issue 10, Part 2, 2025
Authors

Qiumin Chen

Corresponding Author

Qiumin Chen

Publishing Date

November 28, 2025

Keywords

Free Will, Augustine, Scholasticism, Descartes, Nietzsche.

Abstract

The concept of Free Will, an enduring theme in Western philosophy, originated within religious ethics to address fundamental questions such as "the relationship between humans and divinity", "human existence", and "the origins of good and evil". This paper examines the evolution of the notion of Free Will through a historical lens, tracing its development and exploring its metaphysical implications by analyzing pivotal figures in Western philosophical history.

Copyright

© 2025, the Authors. Published by ISCCAC

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license