Single Idea 23736

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 1. Acting on Desires]

Full Idea

We should concede that a desire may be had in the absence of its being felt.

Gist of Idea

A person can have a desire without feeling it

Source

Michael Smith (The Moral Problem [1994], 4.5)

Book Reference

Smith,Michael: 'The Moral Problem' [Blackwell 1994], p.109


A Reaction

A nice observation. An example he gives is a father's desire that his child does well. Smith is discussing Hume's account of motivation in terms of desires and beliefs.