volentia

Volentia is a historical term used in Latin philosophy and theology to denote the will or the faculty of willing. Etymologically, it derives from volēre, “to wish,” with the abstract-noun suffix -entia, yielding a concept closely related to the English word volition. In classical and medieval writings, volentia is often described as the active aspect of rational agency that directs assent, choice, and action.

In scholastic discussions, volentia is contrasted with intellect and appetite to explain how agents decide and act. It is central to debates about freedom, moral responsibility, and the binding force of reason over desire. Some thinkers treated volentia as a formally free power, while others argued it operates under divine or natural necessity.

In contemporary philosophy of action and psychology, “volition” is the more common term in English, but volentia appears in translations and historical accounts. The concept encompasses the formation of intention, commitment to action, and initiation and persistence in the face of obstacles. Modern accounts often analyze the cognitive processes that transform motives into realized behavior, including the role of deliberation, self-regulation, and executive control.

See also: will, volition, free will, agency, intentional action.