THE ROLE OF WILL AND INTELLIGENCE IN HUMAN FREEDOM

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of will and intellect in the constitution of human freedom in light of the Aristotelian-Augustinian-Thomistic philosophical tradition. It seeks to understand how the relationship between intellect and will, as developed by Aristotle, Saint Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas, provides the foundation for human freedom and moral responsibility. The study is based on the hypothesis that freedom is not merely the possibility of choosing among different alternatives but rather the capacity of the will to be rationally directed toward the good apprehended by the intellect. To achieve this objective, a bibliographical study with a qualitative approach and a theoretical-conceptual nature was conducted, based on the analysis of the classical works of the authors examined and contemporary academic studies in moral and medieval philosophy. The findings indicate that the intellect plays a decisive role by enabling the knowledge of truth and goodness, while the will freely adheres to this good, thereby making morally responsible action possible. It is concluded that the integration of intellect, will, and virtues constitutes the foundation of authentic freedom, offering significant contributions to the understanding of moral responsibility in the face of contemporary ethical challenges.