Velleity is the lowest degree of volition, a slight wish or tendency, inclination.[1][2][3]
Author Bill Bryson defined it as that "which describes a mild desire, a wish or urge too slight to lead to action."[4]
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Velleity has been defined primarily as "the lowest degree of desire or volition, with no effort to act".[5][6] Thomas Pynchon, in Gravity's Rainbow, described "[t]his connoisseuse of 'splendid weaknesses', run not by any lust or even velleity but by vacuum: by the absence of human hope".[7]
The marketer Matt Bailey described it as "a desire to see something done, but not enough desire to make it happen".[8]
Velleity may also be seen as "a slight wish not followed by any effort to obtain" an outcome.[9] Author Howard Jacobson called it "the feeblest and most unanticipated of anticipations..."[10]
Several prominent writers, philosophers, and psychologists have discussed the usefulness of the concept of "velleity".
Bill Bryson uses velleity as a perfect example of "words [that] deserve to be better known."[4] He argues rhetorically, "Doesn't that seem a useful term?"[4]
Matt Bailey expressed an attempt "to bring it back, as it has more relevance now than ever."[8] He writes that:
Velleity is what keeps companies locked in this mindset of reporting useless numbers. Desiring, even expecting to someday have an epiphany of change, but not willing to change the mindset or the culture of locked-in reporting to achieve it. Nor are they willing to ask the hard questions in order to uncover what must be done.—Matt Bailey, marketing writer[8]
In philosophy, velleity is the "capacity of alternative choice" -- or the "possibility of alternative choice thereto."[11]
Friedrich Nietzsche describes the velleity of an artist as a "desire to be 'what he is able to represent, conceive, and express'...."[12] Nietsche championed the will to power, which can be encapsulated as starting with velleity, in his free will theorem.
Keith David Wyma refers frequently to the "concept of velleity", citing Thomas Aquinas as an originator of the idea into philosophy.[13]
Psychologist Avi Sion writes, "Many psychological concepts may only be defined and explained with reference to velleity." (Emphasis in original.)[14] An example he cites is that "an ordinarily desirable object can only properly be called 'interesting' or 'tempting' to that agent at that time, if he manifests some velleity...."[14] He distinguishes between the two types of velleity - "to do something and one not to do something...."[14] Furthermore, he asserts, "The concept of velleity is also important because it enables us to understand the co-existence of conflicting values."[14] A person could thus have "double velleity" or "a mix of velleity for something and a volition for its opposite: the latter dominates, of course, but that does not erase the fact of velleity."[14]
Kathy Kolbe also lists velleity as a "key concept of conation."[15]
In criminal law, an inchoate offense, such as crime of attempt, must start with some velleity, but needs to rise beyond that level of mere intent.