Topics Philosophers

Question Hume said that "reason is the slave of passion". I think recent philosophers translate it as "only desires motivate; beliefs don't". But consider the belief that some action gives pleasure. Isn't it an intrinsically motivating belief? Doesn't it motivate one to perform that action?

Accepted:
July 29, 2007

Comments

Perhaps a more accurate modern translation would be: "Only a desire can motivate by itself, a belief can motivate only in conjunction with a desire."

The Humean's response to your query would be: The belief that some action will give you pleasure can motivate you only if you desire to experience, or desire not to experience, that pleasure. In conjunction with the former desire, the belief will motivate you to perform the action. In conjunction with the latter, it will motivate you to desist. In the absence of either desire, the belief will have no effect on your motivation.