Willigkeit

Willigkeit is a theoretical construct in the philosophy of action and cognitive psychology that denotes the internal readiness or inclination to initiate voluntary action. It is described as a momentary or enduring state that precedes deliberate decision and can influence the likelihood of acting, especially when effort or risk is involved.

Etymology: The term combines the German root Wille (will) with the suffix -igkeit (a nominalization of a quality or state). In English, it is often translated as willingness or volitional readiness; however, translations vary because the concept aims to capture a precise stage in action formation between motivation and decision.

Relation to other concepts: Willigkeit is distinguished from intention (a specific plan to act) and motivation (the broader drive) by its emphasis on the immediate readiness to act, even before an explicit intention is formed. It is also differentiated from willpower or self-control, which concern regulation of behavior under difficulty. In some theories, Willigkeit is seen as a bridge between motivational states and volitional acts.

Applications and debates: Proponents use the term to refine action theory, moral philosophy, and human-robot interaction, where modeling a system's propensities to act helps predict behavior. Critics argue that the term is underspecified and overlaps with existing notions, making empirical measurement and cross-language translation challenging. There is no settled consensus on its precise content or measurement.

See also: Will (philosophy), Volition, Intention, Motivation, Action theory, Self-determination.