When Frankl outlines his three principles of logotherapy the phrase he uses is “freedom of will” and not “freedom of choice.” It is true that Frankl enjoys playing with language. Using the word “will” for all three principles creates an elegant construct.
But there is a deeper reason. In his discussion of freedom Frankl elaborates on examples where a person is free to choose his attitude towards his instincts or towards what is happening. Why does he focus on attitude more than actions?
To choose a certain behavior requires freedom of movement. But what makes you decide to choose that course of action in the first place? You must have been capable of choosing what you think about what is happening.
No one can dictate to you what to do and no one can dictate to you what you should want to do. Your “will” is free.
What is very interesting about “will” is that there is a spectrum from “little wants” such as which flavor ice-cream you prefer to “big wants” that relate to your core convictions, your mission statement and that which emanates from your sensed purpose in life.
Your “will” being free, you are capable of deciding to forgo your little wants in favor of your big wants. Recognizing the presence of a higher value, you can do without the ice-cream. Maybe it will be harmful to your health. Maybe someone else is hungrier than you.
The ultimate source of our will is our autonomous essence as what Frankl calls “deciding beings.”
(The Doctor and the Soul, p. xxvi)