Do we only ever desire the desirable?

Question

That is, is the desideratum a construct necessary for desire; must we know in advance that which we want?

I don't know the answer to this question. I have a feeling that we CANT know that which is unavailable, and in the construction of a desire, we're also fabricating the object.. That is, we DO NOT want the actual thing at all.

I have other ways of looking at this. Please stop assuming I'm committed to half of what you might think I am saying.

Answer 1

your attempts at being "deep" are failing miserably.

Answer 2

Yes.

Desire comes from the latin word desiderare, which means: from the stars.

A desire is not merely a wish or a need. It's the leading light that will guide us through the quest for a satisfaction.

A desire does not fulfill a specific need. It just tells us what this need is, and sets the goal of what we think can satisfy this.

Without the guide of a desire we would have to try everything randomly while looking for the satisfaction of a need.

Answer 3

We desire what is desirable to us.

Things people have listed so far, like suicide, self-mutilation, and the like, seem to most of us to be undesirable. Death? Pain? But to the people who act in those ways, they are really countering what undesirable things they already deal with. People want to die because they don't want to live. People self-harm because the physical pain helps relieve the emotional pain.

You have an interesting thought. I would have to say yes, we only really desire the desirable -- that is, the desirable to us.

Answer 4

Desire is in the eye of the beholder.
also meaning to want....
the answer in all good sense would be yes

then if we broaden the word desire to encompass a wider view, we have to take into account the societal norms. in which case the answer would be no. not everybody wants the same things.

so which context of desire do you refer to?

but then wouldn't it really be about whether you have what you desire or desire that which you already have?
where does contentment lie in relation to desire?

Answer 5

To desire the desirable you have to know what you want otherwise it isn't desirable in the first place. A desire is a want. To desire the desirable is to want something others want. Well how can you want what others want if you don't even know what they want? Who that is a lot of wants lol

Answer 6

Heck no. There are plenty of self destructive people out there who are pursuing the undesirable hell bent for leather. Anorexia, suicide, destructive relationships, substance abuse,self mutilation (piercing, tatoos, branding, excessive cosmetic surgery) NONE of those things are desirable to a sane person and yet plenty of people desire those things REAL BAD!

Answer 7

Depends on what desirable is. If desirable is the right thing to desire, then no we don't only desire the desirable.

Answer 8

Some people desire to be raped.

Rape is undesireable.

Some people like to be urinated on during sex.
Drinking urine is undesireable.

Some people desire the undesireable....

Answer 9

no
some of us desire undesirable things
like pain
and shame
and loneliness
but that may just becaus eof issues reguarding selfesteem and trust

Answer 10

durr thats why theyre called the desirable