Desire

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/desire

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the philosophical classification?Desires are propositional attitudes aimed at changing the world
2. What is the motivational mechanism?Desires, coupled with beliefs, drive agency and action
3. Why do we feel desire for toys or snacks?Desire helps us think about how to make our world better. When we want something, it can motivate us to try to get it.
4. How does desire help us do things?Desire gives us a reason to act. It works best when we also believe we know how to get what we want.

Propositional Attitude: A mental state that represents a proposition, such as belief, desire, or intention.
Agency: The capacity of an individual to act independently and make their own choices, often driven by desires.
Desire-Satisfaction Theory: A theory of well-being that states happiness is achieved when one's desires are fulfilled.