Desire

{{Other uses}}

{{Other uses}}

[[File:Aristide Maillol - Désir.jpg|thumb|''Désir'', sculpture by [[Aristide Maillol]]]]{{Not to be confused with|text=[[Dream|Dreams]], which is a common term used to describe "hopes" or "desires"}}{{emotion}}

[[File:Aristide Maillol - Désir.jpg|thumb|''Désir'', sculpture by [[Aristide Maillol]]]]{{Not to be confused with|text=[[Dream|Dreams]], which is a common term used to describe "hopes" or "desires"}}{{emotion}}

'''Desires''' are [[states of mind]] that are expressed by terms like "[[want]]ing", "[[wish]]ing", "longing", "wistful", or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as [[propositional attitude]]s towards conceivable [[states of affairs]]. They aim to change the [[world]] by representing how the world should be, unlike [[belief]]s, which aim to represent how the world actually is. Desires are closely related to [[Action (philosophy)|agency]]: they [[motivation|motivate]] the agent to realize them. For this to be possible, a desire has to be combined with a belief about which action would realize it. Desires present their objects in a favorable light, as something that appears to be good. Their fulfillment is normally experienced as [[pleasure|pleasurable]] in contrast to the negative experience of failing to do so. Conscious desires are usually accompanied by some form of [[emotion]]al response. While many researchers roughly agree on these general features, there is significant disagreement about how to define desires, i.e. which of these features are essential and which ones are merely accidental. ''Action-based theories'' define desires as structures that incline us toward actions. ''Pleasure-based theories'' focus on the tendency of desires to cause pleasure when fulfilled. ''Value-based theories'' identify desires with attitudes toward values, like judging or having an appearance that something is good.

'''Desires''' are [[states of mind]] that are expressed by terms like "[[want]]ing", "[[wish]]ing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as [[propositional attitude]]s towards conceivable [[states of affairs]]. They aim to change the [[world]] by representing how the world should be, unlike [[belief]]s, which aim to represent how the world actually is. Desires are closely related to [[Action (philosophy)|agency]]: they [[motivation|motivate]] the agent to realize them. For this to be possible, a desire has to be combined with a belief about which action would realize it. Desires present their objects in a favorable light, as something that appears to be good. Their fulfillment is normally experienced as [[pleasure|pleasurable]] in contrast to the negative experience of failing to do so. Conscious desires are usually accompanied by some form of [[emotion]]al response. While many researchers roughly agree on these general features, there is significant disagreement about how to define desires, i.e. which of these features are essential and which ones are merely accidental. ''Action-based theories'' define desires as structures that incline us toward actions. ''Pleasure-based theories'' focus on the tendency of desires to cause pleasure when fulfilled. ''Value-based theories'' identify desires with attitudes toward values, like judging or having an appearance that something is good.

Desires can be grouped into various types according to a few basic distinctions. ''Intrinsic desires'' concern what the subject wants for its own sake while ''instrumental desires'' are about what the subject wants for the sake of something else. ''Occurrent desires'' are either conscious or otherwise causally active, in contrast to ''standing desires'', which exist somewhere in the back of one's mind. ''Propositional desires'' are directed at possible states of affairs while ''object-desires'' are directly about objects. Various authors distinguish between higher desires associated with spiritual or religious goals and lower desires, which are concerned with bodily or sensory pleasures. Desires play a role in many different fields. There is disagreement whether desires should be understood as practical reasons or whether we can have practical reasons without having a desire to follow them. According to ''fitting-attitude theories of value'', an object is [[Axiology|valuable]] if it is fitting to desire this object or if we ought to desire it. ''Desire-satisfaction theories of well-being'' state that a person's [[well-being]] is determined by whether that person's desires are satisfied.

Desires can be grouped into various types according to a few basic distinctions. ''Intrinsic desires'' concern what the subject wants for its own sake while ''instrumental desires'' are about what the subject wants for the sake of something else. ''Occurrent desires'' are either conscious or otherwise causally active, in contrast to ''standing desires'', which exist somewhere in the back of one's mind. ''Propositional desires'' are directed at possible states of affairs while ''object-desires'' are directly about objects. Various authors distinguish between higher desires associated with spiritual or religious goals and lower desires, which are concerned with bodily or sensory pleasures. Desires play a role in many different fields. There is disagreement whether desires should be understood as practical reasons or whether we can have practical reasons without having a desire to follow them. According to ''fitting-attitude theories of value'', an object is [[Axiology|valuable]] if it is fitting to desire this object or if we ought to desire it. ''Desire-satisfaction theories of well-being'' state that a person's [[well-being]] is determined by whether that person's desires are satisfied.