Autonomy and moral agency: the Western philosophical tradition of free will from Aristotle to German classical philosophy

Анотація

The article's primary goal is to examine aspects of autonomy and moral agency, from Aristotle to contemporary analytic philosophy. It is noted that free will has long been a central concern in Western philosophy, as it underlies fundamental questions of moral responsibility, personal identity, legal accountability, and political legitimacy. It is also noted that while contemporary discussions are primarily based on compatibilism, incompatibilism, and libertarianism, these approaches originate in a broader philosophical tradition extending from classical Greek philosophy to contemporary analytic thought.

Methods and Methodologies. The author makes extensive use of the historical method to examine the historical development of the Western concept of free will. The study also employs conceptual analysis, philosophical hermeneutics, and comparative historical interpretation to explore the evolving relationship between rational deliberation, autonomy, intentional action, and moral responsibility.

Novelty in the article. For the first time in Russian historical philosophical scholarship, this article argues that, despite significant disagreements regarding determinism and alternative possibilities, Western philosophy has consistently understood freedom as a defining characteristic of the rational individual and the basis of ethical accountability. The article also demonstrates that contemporary discussions, enriched by the philosophy of action, cognitive science, and moral psychology, continue to preserve the central Western conception of freedom as rational self-governance and responsible action.

Conclusions: Ultimately, the author notes that by restoring the historical continuity of these ideas, the study offers an integrated framework for understanding the evolution of free will in the Western philosophical tradition. It emphasizes that the Western philosophical tradition demonstrates that free will is not simply a metaphysical problem concerning causality, but a comprehensive philosophical foundation for understanding what it means to be a rational, autonomous, and morally responsible person. It also points out that, throughout more than two thousand years of intellectual history, freedom has remained a defining condition of ethical life.