Short communication, Note

https://doi.org/10.31820/ejap.17.1.9

Motivational Internalism and The Second-Order Desire Explanation

Xiao Zhang orcid.org/0000-0002-2841-7073

Abstract

Both motivational internalism and externalism need to explain why sometimes moral judgments tend to motivate us. In this paper, I argue that Dreier’ second-order desire model cannot be a plausible externalist alternative to explain the connection between moral judgments and motivation. I explain that the relevant second-order desire is merely a constitutive requirement of rationality because that desire makes a set of desires more unified and coherent. As a rational agent with the relevant second-order desire is disposed towards coherence, she will have some motivation to act in accordance with her moral judgments. Dreier’s second-order desire model thus collapses into a form of internalism and cannot be a plausible externalist option to explain the connection between moral judgments and motivation.

Keywords

Motivational internalism; externalism; second-order desire; practical rationality

Hrčak ID:

261267

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/261267

Publication date:

5.2.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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