Abstract

This chapter discusses the motivational theory “the standard theory” of desire. It also briefly deals with the standard theory's main rival, the hedonic theory of desire. Then, it sketches out some of the recent neuroscience that hints at an alternative theory of desire. The standard theory has two central features: it holds that all desires are desires that P, for some proposition P; and they are action-guiding. Moreover, it explains why motivation is not essential to desire and motivation is not sufficient for desiring. It is stated that the standard theory treats the phenomenology as constitutive of a superficial distinction, rather than indicative of a deeper distinction.