Willensakt

Willensakt is a German term referring to the act of will, the mental event by which a person chooses to perform a particular action. The word combines Wille (will) and Akt (act). In philosophy and psychology, Willensakt denotes the moment or process by which an intention becomes a volitional decision that can guide behavior. It is often distinguished from mere desire or belief by its commitment to an action and its readiness to be carried out.

In philosophy, discussions of will and volition analyze Willensakt as the moment when inner decision translates into outward action, raising questions about freedom, responsibility, and the nature of agency. Classical explorations by thinkers such as Kant and Schopenhauer, and later phenomenologists, have framed will as a foundational element of intentional action and autonomy, while also noting its experiential difficulty and complexity.

In psychology and cognitive science, Willensakt relates to volition, self-regulation, and executive control. Research topics include how goals are formed, how plans are sustained, and how intentions are converted into action, including the timing, motivation, and neural mechanisms involved in initiating behavior.

In legal theory, Willensakt can denote the mental act of binding oneself to a legal effect, often in practice described as a declaration of will (Willenserklärung) in civil law. The legal relevance lies in how a person’s communicated will produces rights, obligations, or contractual effects, distinguishing internal decision from external manifestation.

See also: Will, Wille, Willenserklärung, volition, intention, agency.