Volition, discretion and autonomy words seem similar but not same. These are abstract nouns. Volition means the ability, power, or act of choosing something you like without any external pressure or internal compulsion. For clarity, act of choosing something by the means of free will.
All the above words belong to same class that used to express person’s free will in making or desiring anything the person like most.
Understanding meaning and examples of volition word
1.Whatever we think and act is nothing but the result of our own volition.
2.He donated his property by his own volition and there were no pressure outside.
3.She left the celebration of his own volition.
Here, you should take into account the following points. Want or desire of person is paramount. Second, there is no internal compulsion to do something. Third, external pressure is zero or negligible. Fourth, enough room to express natural tilt or urge regarding anything.
In simple words, volition means you are your own master of your will and there is no one to force you to do against you. Let’s find out difference between voluntary, accord, freedom, free will, volition, discretion, and autonomy to bring more clarity.
Volition vs free will vs freedom vs autonomy
Psychologically, volition may either be thoughtful or spontaneous. It may be driven by emotions, logic or discretion. So,it may good, bad, negative or positive. The power of choosing or ability to make choices depends on the beliefs, experience, inclination of person in question.
Free will and volition are quite different in meaning. Because, volition is all about your choices and choosing power. But, free will is all about the freedom to express what the person intended to. It is not necessarily about making choice but about his right to express his views without any constraints.
Freedom vs autonomy difference
Freedom implies restriction free power one can enjoy if he has freedom. It may regarding anything like choice, movement, act, expression etc. Freedom is so dynamic concept. While free will implies absolute freedom. Whereas, freedom isn’t absolute but relative.
There is noticeable difference between freedom and autonomy. Freedom is more general concept. We can use in the variety of context. While autonomy is a political term that denotes right to have own rule. Politically, it is not like independence in which entire power is exercised by the people who have independence.
1.Now, with the better earning, we have better freedom to buy our choices.
2.Mahatma Gandhi was champion of Indian freedom.
3.Indian constitution gives rights regarding freedom to it’s citizens.
Frequently, autonomy is used to signal partial freedom or freedom regarding certain areas. Though autonomous country or entity has power to rule but not like sovereign country or national. We can term autonomy as limited freedom not absolute like an autonomous country, region, body, organisation, institution, agency etc.
1.UPSC is an independent and autonomous body.
2.Election commission should be independent and autonomous.
3.Tibetan people have been demanding autonomy of Tibet.
Discretion vs volition vs voluntary difference
Call of conscious mind is called discretion. It is not like free will, freedom, and volition. Because, discretion is the ability to do things but subject to ethical standards or moral values.
1.People are expecting president to use discretionary powers.
2.If there is no party achieve majority, president has discretionary powers to invite largest party.
As I explained earlier that volition has nothing to do with ethics and moral values but to make choices or power to making choices without any constraints.
At the end, voluntary means act by the consent of his own mind instead of manipulation or force by others. Simply, act by self and not by compulsion. It is often used regarding duty, work, profession, services etc.
Last words on volition, discretion and autonomy difference,
Though all the above English words are used indicate power or ability to act, choose, and make decisions as per the free will, ethics and moral values, and freedom to do within limit.
Volition denotes power or ability to make choices, discretion implies acts of conscious mind in making decisions, and autonomy is all about power or jurisdiction to act.
This is why these words seem similar but not so. Yes, these are confusing but have independent domain of usages.
Short summary of volition, discretion, and autonomy difference
Volition is an act, power or ability to make choices or choosing whatever you want, desire or like. It is in the absence of external pressure or internal compulsion.
Discretion is about to make decisions on the basis of ethics and moral values. It is about the conscious mind to make judgement.
And, autonomy implies the degree of freedom the organisation, entity, region enjoy. It is like regional autonomy, autonomy of institution, autonomy of body etc.
Examples of Adjectives of volition discretion and autonomy nouns:
Voluntary, volitional, willful, discretionary, discrational, autonomous, etc.
Conjunctions for alternative choices
Freedom of speech and expression