Single Idea 24113

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 2. Acting on Beliefs / a. Acting on beliefs]

Full Idea

Human actions can in no way be explained by reference to human motives.

Gist of Idea

Our motives don't explain our actions

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Unpublished Notebooks 1882-84 [1883], 9[43])

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Fragments from the period of 'Zarathustra' (v 14)', ed/tr. Loeb/Tinsley [Stanford 2019], p.319


A Reaction

He takes motives to come after the event. His view seems to be that our actions are deeply inexplicable. But if we explain why we performed some action, are we all and always lying? We give reasons, even if we don't know the source of the reasons.