willend

Willend is a term used in discussions of volition and action to denote the intentional act of bringing a process to an end. It is typically defined as the moment or act in which a subject resolves to terminate an ongoing state or activity, distinguishing it from mere external cessation or automatic stopping. The word is a neologism formed by combining will, referring to volitional power, with end, indicating termination. It first appears in late-20th to early-21st century theoretical discourse and has not achieved wide consensus or formal entry in major dictionaries.

In usage, willend is most often discussed in philosophy of action, cognitive science, and thought experiments on self-control and moral responsibility. As a noun, it can denote the decision itself: “the willend to cease the action.” As a verb, to willend means to bring about termination by volitional act, e.g., “to willend an ongoing project.” The concept is sometimes contrasted with cessation prompted by external factors or habits, highlighting the role of conscious intent in stopping.

Critically, willend remains a contested and lightly used term, with some scholars preferring existing vocabulary such as termination, cessation, or the cessation of intentional action. See also volition, intention, action theory, and self-control.