A careful and strict enquiry into the modern prevailing notions of that freedom of…

The Thing which has led Men into this inconsistent Notion of Action, when applied to Volition, as tho' it were essential to this internal Action, that the Agent should be self-determined in it, and that the Will should be the Cause of it, was probably this; that according to the Sense of Mankind, and the common Use of Language it is so, with respect to Men's external Actions; which are what originally, and according to the vulgar Use and most proper Sense of the Word, are called Actions. Men in these are self-directed, self-determined, and their Wills are the Cause of the Motions of their Bodies, and the external Things that are done; so that unless Men do 'em voluntarily, and of Choice, and the Action be determined by their antecedent Volition, it is no Action or Doing of theirs. Hence some Metaphysicians have been led unwarily, but exceeding absurdly, to suppose the same concerning Volition it self, that That also must be determined by the Will; which is to be determined by antecedent Volition, as the Motion of the Body is; not considering the Contradiction it implies.

The Thing which has led Men into this inconsistent Notion of Action, when applied to Volition, as tho' it were essential to this internal Action, that the Agent should be self-determined in it, and that the Will should be the Cause of it, was probably this; that according to the Sense of Mankind, and the common Use of Language it is so, with respect to Men's external Actions; which are what originally, and according to the vulgar Use and most proper Sense of the Word, are called Actions. Men in these are self-directed, self-determined, and their Wills are the Cause of the Motions of their Bodies, and the external Things that are done; so that unless Men do 'em voluntarily, and of Choice, and the Action be determined by their antecedent Volition, it is no Action or Doing of theirs. Hence some Metaphysicians have been led unwarily, but exceeding absurdly, to suppose the same concerning Volition it self, that That also must be determined by the Will; which is to be determin'd by antecedent Volition, as the Motion of the Body is; not considering the Contradiction it implies.

But 'tis very evident, that in the metaphysical Distinction between Action and Passion, (tho' long since become common and the general Vogue) due Care has not been taken to conform Language to the Nature of Things, or to any distinct clear Ideas. As it is in innumerable other Philosophical, Metaphysical Terms, used in these Disputes; which has occasioned inexpressible Difficulty, Contention, Error and Confusion.