Single Idea 20133

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / b. Intellectualism]

Full Idea

The so-called 'motive' is another error. Merely a surface phenomenon of consciousness - something alongside the deed which is more likely to cover up the antecedents of the deed than to represent them.

Gist of Idea

The 'motive' is superficial, and may even hide the antecedents of a deed

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Twilight of the Idols [1889], 6.3)

Book Reference

Leiter,Brian: 'Nietzsche On Morality (2nd Edn)' [Routledge 2015], p.73


A Reaction

[Leiter gives 'VI.3', but I can't find it] As far as you can get from intellectualism about action, and is more in accord with the picture found in modern neuro-science. No one knows why they are 'interested' in something, and that's the start of it.