Philosophy Series: What Motivates You?

Decisions are assumed to be rational, where cost is compared to reward and rewards are scaled to personal value. But how are personal values determined? What is the motivation for our decisions?

There is a popular belief that every human has two components, the physical and the ethereal, joined to form our existence. The physical consists of our body, our physical traits and attributes, our senses, our ability to perceive stimuli and affect the world. The ethereal is the immaterial representation of the mind, our thoughts, our desires. Thus, motivation would in theory lie within the ethereal.

One of the most pivotal individuals of Western philosophy, Plato (428 - 347 BC), observed that people would hold conflict in their desires. For example, the desire for valuables would be in conflict with the desire to not steal. From the conflict of desire, Plato observed three aspects of the soul: 

• reason, the desire for logic

• appetite, the physical desires

• and spirit, the emotional desires. 

Plato likened the soul to a chariot. Reason is the charioteer pulled by the two horses of spirit and appetite. To ignore spirit and appetite, reason would be motionless, to indulge would cause the chariot to crash. Thus, Plato promoted harmony within all aspects of the soul, a balance of motivation driving forward our reason. Plato believed that sustaining these three aspects of the soul is the motivation for life.

The purpose of introducing Plato’s theory of the soul, is not to promote an adoption of his ideals. But rather an understanding of the method of questioning and answering. Plato asked a question of life. Seeking answers, he made observations of himself and the world around him. Using these observations, he theorized answers in the most logical manner to himself. He observed conflict of desire, in the world and in himself. By these observations, he theorized the tripartite.

As an individual, it is our duty to be skeptical. Plato’s theory should raise many questions. For example, is there even a soul? If there is a soul, what does it do? Is it responsible for our motivations? If it does, to what degree? Each answer should arise new questions, only then can further our understanding of life.

Remember, to seek meaningful life is to find meaning in personal life, not in philosophers. So, ask, why do you do things? What are your motivations? Observe the conflicts within yourself. Observe the behavior of others. Record observations and create theories. Do not worry if they do not align with the ideals of philosophers. Motivation is unique to each person. Finding the motivation of a philosopher is moot, finding the motivation to yourself is a liberating, a lit path to a meaningful life.

— William Ouyang