Abstract

Remarkably enough, there was no such thing as a problem of moral freedom for the ancients. More remarkably still, perhaps, there was no such thing for them as the concept of will, such as we know it today# Even though some explanation can be given of the reasons which prevented the problem from arising for the thinkers of antiquity, it nevertheless remains a most remarkable fact that it did not. Upon closer examination, this fact proves itself important as it is remarkable. For the concept of moral freedom serves as the basis for a thoroughly different approach to ethics, a veritable revolution in moral thought.[...]