Guttersnipe

Here's a proposition I would like to toss out for critical evaluation:

Necessarily, all conscious action is motivated.

Where the def. of conscious action =
'Action originating from a conscious choice.'

Note: examples of unconscious action (as per the def. stipulated) would include reflexes and impulses.

Two general motivators I can think of off the top of my head are 1)desires; and 2)fears. If anyone can think of any more (which are not a subset of the two previously listed) it would be greatly appreciated.

Dr Rick

I wonder if there might be some circularity with these definitions:

"Conscious action arises from conscious choice, and conscious choice leads to conscious action."

We haven't really defined "conscious" in a meaningful way with this definition set.

Rick

Gurdur

Not only is all left undefined here, but also:
Conscious action is what ?

Action that one is conscious of may also be "motivated" by sheerly random processes.

Guttersnipe

I didn't really want to get into that -- I don't think a concise def. of conscious is really necessary here. We all experience making conscious choices (determined or no), and it is merely this experience I am referring to by use of the term.

Gurdur: Indeed, an example of such an action would be an reflex. I am fully conscious and aware when I pull my hand from a hot stove, but no choice was made. (This, of course, is not a random process, but technically speaking, no truely random processes effect actions, unless quantum indetermination plays some part in neuronal activity.)

Arrowman

I'm not sure where this is going (if anywhere) - but my first thought is - would "deliberate" be a better word than "conscious"?

Necessarily, all deliberate action is motivated.
?

As to the role or definition of motivation - my first thought is, I might make a deliberate (or conscious) action, and if asked I might explain my motivation (indeed, I would always be able to come up with a motivation and therefore I would I suppose agree with the assertion) - but - some might say it is possible for my true motivation to be unconscious (eg past trauma, whatever).

Like I said, don't know where this is going but...

Guttersnipe

'Deliberate' is probably less ambiguous. The reason for my inquiry is that the proposition is a key part in an ethical theory I've been working on. I know many people won't find the subject very interesting, and it is for just that reason that I posted the particular proposition rather than the entire theory. I didn't want attention drawn away from my question conerning motivation, since it needs stronger support than the appearence of truth. I was hoping for a biologist with some knowledge on the subject...

I don't have a problem with unconscious motivation. Its unmotivated deliberate action that I'm searching for...