Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Belief-desire psychology, as Nagel argued in 'The Possibility of Altruism,' cannot account for cases where agents are motivated by recognized objective requirements without antecedent desires.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.The desire to act morally or rationally can be latent or constitute part of rational agency itself, making the 'no antecedent desire' claim ambiguous.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Recognition of objective requirements may causally depend on background desires (e.g., for consistency, approval), which belief-desire psychology accommodates.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Nagel's view risks positing a mysterious motivational faculty disconnected from psychological explanation, rather than refining desire-based accounts.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Agents often act from recognition of moral duties (e.g., keeping promises) without prior desires motivating such recognition.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Belief-desire models struggle to explain why objective requirements themselves generate motivation independent of pre-existing wants.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Nagel's internalism about reasons suggests rational agency requires direct motivational force from recognized normative truths, not desire.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.