The motivational state of the virtuous agent
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8098254 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lorraine Besser-Jones (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 93-108 |
| Publication date | 2011-06-16 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Philosophical Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0951-5089 • E-ISSN: 1465-394X |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/09515089.2011.569914 |
| OpenAlex | W2077649498 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 20 |
Julia Annas argues that Aristotle's understanding of the phenomenological experience of the virtuous agent corresponds to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's concept of the "flow," which is a form of intrinsic motivation. In this paper, I explore whether or not Annas' understanding of virtuous agency is a plausible one. After a thorough analysis of psychological accounts of intrinsic and extrinsic states of motivation, I argue that despite the attractiveness of Annas' understanding of virtuous agency, it is subject to a serious problem: all virtuous activities are not ones that we take pleasure in independently of their connection to "virtue." Moreover, somewhat sadly, we have no compelling reason to think that they can become so. Our psychology is not constituted to find the exercise of virtue, in all of its extensions, interesting and enjoyable, apart from its connection to virtue
Agency (philosophy · Attractiveness · Economics · Epistemology · Intrinsic motivation · Phenomenology (philosophy · Pleasure · Psychoanalysis · Psychotherapist · Virtue · Virtuous circle and vicious circle · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Philosophical Ethics and Theory · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Philosophy · Social Psychology
Making a Necessity of Virtue
The Contours of Positive Human Health
Living well
Know Thyself and Become What You Are
On Happiness and Human Potentials
Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations
The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits
Making a necessity of virtue
Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being
When helping helps
Goal striving, need satisfaction, and longitudinal well-being
| Citations per year | 0.67 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2020 - 2024 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |