Desire Quote by Nomy Arpaly
“For those of us who want to have control over all our mental states, compatibilist substitutes - such as desiring what we desire to desire - will always be like being told, when you desperately want there to be a God, that yes, God exists, as God is simply the good within people.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Compatibilism and Moral Psychology, Nomy Arpaly, 2018
Attempting to control mental states via compatibilist tricks is like self‑deception; it pretends to grant freedom while merely reshaping desire.
In simple terms: Control through desire is self‑deception.
Key Takeaway
Recognize genuine autonomy versus wishful thinking.
Themes
philosophy
mind
autonomy
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- personal therapy
- ethical decision making
- political discourse
Key Concepts
compatibilism
self‑deception
desire manipulation
Questions to Reflect On
- What desires are truly yours?
- How can you test authenticity of your motives?
A Different Perspective
May ignore deeper unconscious influences.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
