Wannamaker Summary - Chapter 1

Chapter Summary Of The Philosophy Of Freedom
Olin D. Wannamaker

Chapter 1 Conscious Human Action 
Obviously, there is no freedom when we are compelled by motives of which we are unconscious. The question we are to discuss must be: Are we free when compelled by motives, if we first permeate their nature with our consciousness before acting under their compulsion? Our first step toward an answer, therefore, must be to determine what is meant by knowing a motive, and this requires that we determine the nature of knowing in general. This requires, in turn, that we investigate the nature of thinking, since this is the sole organ of all knowing. This investigation must necessarily precede our inquiry into the question whether the human being possess inner freedom.

Our first step must be to determine what is the cause of thinking and what is its nature.

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