The Greatest Gift of Free Will: PARADISO, Canto V, Lines 17 - 33

About this episode

Beatrice begins the final part of her argument with the premise that the freedom of the will is the greatest gift given to angels and humans. She then offers one out to her rather strict notion of ethical behavior—some vows may not be valid—and proceeds to claim that the will wills its own loss while making a vow. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we explore the apotheosis of free will in Beatrice's final discourse in the sphere of the moon. To help support this podcast and cover its many fees, please consider a donation at this PayPal link right here. Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE: [01:33] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto V, Lines 17 - 33. If you'd like to read along or drop a comment about this episode, please find its entry on my website, markscarbrough.com. [03:24] The greatest gift is free will--thus, evil is a moral reality, not a metaphysical or an ontological reality. [09:17] The will wills its loss in a vow, an act of self-limitation (if God so agrees). [13:51] You can't climb over the fence of your vow. [16:16] The will may well be paramount--unless a poet gets involved. [19:16] Rereading PARADISO, Canto V, lines 17 - 33.