"I have come to the conclusion that my subjective account of my own motivation is largely mythical on almost all occasions. I don't know why I do things." J.B.S. Haldane
2007-09-20 09:05:18 · 8 answers · asked by Zelda Hunter 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
My dear, I don't even think it's "mostly" true, at least for me, it isn't. I long ago learned to be objective about myself, & that along with being ME, I know/feel why I do the things I do. Retrospectively, & in the present as well, there's a pattern that is my "nature." My very inner self. I'm not quite sure how to express this, sort of like a river that flows....
I have no regrets, ever, & since I'm in harmony with my life, this isn't a "thesis" but whatever I'm "doing," it works for me.
No "evil lurks," nor does it have anything to do with "control."
On the contrary, I relinquish control to the natural flow of me.
Why on earth would one deceive ONESELF?
2007-09-20 12:48:50 · answer #1 · answered by Valac Gypsy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Maybe for some not so much for us. Our problem is there are just too many motivations floating around in there. I have a hard time reaching a consensus and will often act differently in the same situation. All these conflicting passions fight it out in our sub conscious, we can take a look in there if we have the time to meditate on it. Most of the time we’re on auto pilot. We just do. Then maybe cross examine after the fact. We might alter our auto pilot program a bit based on the results.
Oh yeah so in all instances it is our passions or what we care about that motivate us. It is all different takes on which ones get prioritized and when but they are all still our passions.
2007-09-20 16:37:56 · answer #2 · answered by grey_worms 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thats pretty deep. But I tend to agree with the quote. In order to understand it, however, you have to look really hard. And I really don't think it is necessarily something that just anybody would want to find out about themeselves. I think as humans we'd rather believe that we are in full control of "why we do things."
2007-09-20 17:07:26 · answer #3 · answered by KenshoDude 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The statement is largely true and it comports with what the three masters of suspicion (Nietzsche, Freud, and Marx) have said. It also accords with what we find in Holy Writ. There is evil that lurks in the heart of men of which they know not.
2007-09-20 17:11:49 · answer #4 · answered by sokrates 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Since he says "almost all", I'll go ahead and say true.
The major obstacle to our seeing our own motives is our ability for self deception. Our nature is to be deceptive and believing our own deception helps make us convincing in our lies.
2007-09-20 16:26:04 · answer #5 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Agree- we all tend to be to kind to or to hard on ourselves.
2007-09-20 16:59:21 · answer #6 · answered by almac 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mostly true, though we dont admit it.
2007-09-20 17:04:32 · answer #7 · answered by DJT 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we are all beautiful in our own way.
2007-09-20 16:17:40 · answer #8 · answered by @NGEL B@BY 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋