volontà

Volontà is a term that denotes the faculty or act of willing, the capacity to form intentions and to initiate and guide actions in accordance with those intentions. In Italian, it translates to will or volition in English. The word derives from Latin voluntas, from volere meaning to want.

In philosophy, volontà is central to debates about agency, freedom, and moral responsibility. The concept is contrasted with determinism and is associated with discussions of free will, intentional action, and responsibility. Voluntarism, as a family of theories, emphasizes the primacy of the will in shaping reality or knowledge, while other approaches stress the role of reasons, constraints, or unconscious processes.

In psychology and cognitive science, volition refers to the processes by which a person forms goals, decides on a course of action, and initiates behavior. It encompasses motivation, goal setting, decision making, intention formation, and self-control, and it is studied in relation to executive function and self-regulation.

In ethics and law, volitional capacity is relevant to questions of voluntary action, consent, and responsibility. Actions taken under coercion or mistaken beliefs may be considered non-volitional, affecting moral judgments and legal outcomes. The term also appears in everyday Italian usage to describe determination, resolve, or willpower in the sense of personal resolve.

See also: free will, intention, willpower, volition, agency.