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    Nagel argued in 'The Possibility of Altruism' that motiva... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Reason alone can never be a motive to any action of the will.

    Nagel argued in 'The Possibility of Altruism' that motivated desires can be derived from rational recognition of facts, meaning desire follows reason rather than preceding it.

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    Reasons For

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    • 1.Moral obligations appear to bind us independently of our antecedent desires, suggesting reason can generate motivational force.
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    • 2.If desire always preceded reason, we couldn't explain how rational argument changes what we're motivated to do.
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    • 3.Recognition that others have equal interests can rationally necessitate concern for them without prior desire to care.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.Empirically, motivational inertia shows rational recognition of facts often fails to generate corresponding desires or action.
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    • 2.Deriving 'ought' conclusions from factual premises requires unstated normative assumptions that themselves presuppose prior values.
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    • 3.Brain science indicates emotional/limbic systems generate motivation independently of and prior to rational deliberation.
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    Related

    Brain science indicates emotional/limbic systems generate motivation independent...Deriving 'ought' conclusions from factual premises requires unstated normative a...Empirically, motivational inertia shows rational recognition of facts often fail...If desire always preceded reason, we couldn't explain how rational argument chan...
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    Moral obligations appear to bind us independently of our antecedent desires, sug...Reason alone can never be a motive to any action of the will.Recognition that others have equal interests can rationally necessitate concern ...

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