Ideas of Antonio Damasio, by Theme

[Portuguese, fl. 1999, Professor at the University of Iowa, then University of Southern California.]

green numbers give full details    |    back to list of philosophers    |     unexpand these ideas    |    
15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 10. Conatus/Striving
Conatus is brain circuits seeking survival and well-being
     Full Idea: Conatus is explicable as the aggregate of dispositions laid down in brain circuitry that seeks both survival and well-being.
     From: Antonio Damasio (Looking for Spinoza [2003], p.36)
     A reaction: So conatus is the motivation of my inner personal assistant, who reminds me what I am doing later today. I like the mention of dispositions, hence powers.