EleutherIA — Defined term

Hekousion (Voluntary)

ἑκούσιον

Classical Greek

Hekousion (ἑκούσιον, voluntary) is Aristotle’s concept for actions that originate in the agent with knowledge of the particular circumstances. Defined in Nicomachean Ethics III.1, a voluntary action is one whose origin (ἀρχή) is in the agent, who is aware of the circumstances — establishing two conditions: internal causal origin (not external force) and knowledge (not ignorance). Voluntary actions are the proper objects of praise and blame. The voluntary is broader than deliberate choice (προαίρεσις): children and animals act voluntarily but do not deliberate.

Open this record in Scholar mode

Source snapshot seo-source-sha256-51705b13ef303079a5960029d6bf45a566ca04087e345b86aaa3ec979e44d8d6 · 2026-08-24