Thelési

Thelési (Greek: θέλησις) is a noun in Greek that denotes will, volition, desire, or intention. It is derived from the verb θέλω (thelō), “to want” or “to wish,” with the abstract-noun suffix -σις (-sis). In transliteration, the classical form thelēsis is sometimes used to reflect older Greek spelling.

In Classical Greek, θέλησις referred to a person’s inner will or inclination that motivates voluntary action. It could denote a specific intention as well as a general disposition, and it appeared in discussions of ethics, agency, and decision making. The concept coexisted with related terms such as βούλησις (boulēsis, “will” in some senses) and ἐπιθυμία (epithymía, “desire”). In Koine and later theological contexts, θέλησις can also describe divine will, as in phrases contrasting human will with God’s will, where θέλημα (thelēma) is a more technical term for the will of God.

In Modern Greek, the common noun is θέληση (thélisi), meaning will, determination, or willingness. It is used in everyday speech to express resolve or a voluntary disposition, for example “Έδειξε θέληση να προχωρήσει” (She showed the will to proceed). The corresponding verb is θέλω (thélo), “to want.”

The term also enters literary and occult contexts in its root form, as in Thelema, a religious philosophy introduced by Aleister Crowley. Thelema derives from the Greek θελέμμα/thelēma, meaning “will” or “volition.”