Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Rationality of Science', 'Mathematical Logic (revised)' and 'Virtues of the Mind'

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2 ideas

20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 1. Acting on Desires

20202	Motives involve desires, but also how the desires connect to our aims [Zagzebski]
	Full Idea: A motive does have an aspect of desire, but it includes something about why a state of affairs is desired, and that includes something about the way my emotions are tied to my aim.
	From: Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski (Virtues of the Mind [1996], II 2.6)
	A reaction: It is standard usage that a 'motive' involves some movement towards achieving the desire, and not merely having the desire. I'd quite like to stand on top of Everest, but have absolutely no motivation to try to achieve it.

20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / c. Reasons as causes

3871	Explaining an action is showing that it is rational [Newton-Smith]
	Full Idea: To explain an action as an action is to show that it is rational.
	From: W.H. Newton-Smith (The Rationality of Science [1981], X.2)