The Eternal Dance: Desire, Will, and the Architecture of Choice

In the grand theatre of human experience, few dramas are as constant and compelling as the interplay between our desires and our will. This isn't merely an abstract philosophical debate; it's the very engine of our daily choices, shaping who we are and what we become. From the simplest impulse to the most profound moral dilemma, the Mind acts as the stage where these two powerful forces contend, collaborate, and ultimately define the path of Man. This article delves into the intricate relationship between what we want and what we choose, drawing insights from the timeless wisdom preserved in the Great Books of the Western World.

Understanding the Players: What is Desire?

Desire is often understood as the pull towards something perceived as good or pleasurable, or away from something perceived as bad or painful. It's the raw, often unbidden impulse that arises from our nature, our instincts, and our experiences. Philosophers across the ages have grappled with its essence:

  • Plato, in his Republic, famously categorized desires into various appetites, associating them with the lower, spirited, and rational parts of the soul. He saw the appetitive part as seeking bodily pleasures like food, drink, and sex.
  • Aristotle, in his Nicomachean Ethics, explored desires as passions, acknowledging their natural place in human life but emphasizing the need for reason to guide them towards virtuous ends.
  • For many, desire is the initial spark, the "I want" that precedes any conscious decision. It can be a powerful motivator, driving creativity, ambition, and love, but it can also be a source of conflict, leading to excess or irrational behaviour if left unchecked.

It's the urge for that extra slice of cake, the yearning for recognition, or the deep longing for connection. Without desire, we might lack motivation, but its untamed nature can lead us astray.

The Guiding Hand: What is Will?

If desire is the impulse, will is the faculty of choice and conscious determination. It's our capacity to act deliberately, to assent or dissent, to direct our attention, and to initiate action based on reason or moral conviction, even in the face of strong desires.

  • St. Augustine, a pivotal figure in the development of the concept of will, particularly in his Confessions and City of God, emphasized its central role in moral responsibility. For Augustine, the will is not merely a passive recipient of desires but an active power that directs the soul towards good or evil, freedom or bondage. His struggles with his own desires highlight the internal battle.
  • Immanuel Kant, in his Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, elevated the will to the pinnacle of moral agency. For Kant, a truly moral action stems from a good will – one that acts out of duty and respect for the moral law, rather than from inclination or desire. The autonomy of the will is what grants Man his dignity and capacity for self-legislation.

The will represents our ability to pause, reflect, and choose a path, even when it's difficult or goes against our immediate inclinations. It's the "I choose" that follows the "I want."

The Arena of Decision: Where Desire Meets Will

The true complexity arises when desire and will meet in the arena of choice. This isn't always a battle; sometimes they align perfectly, leading to effortless action. More often, however, they present a dynamic tension that defines our moral and practical lives.

Consider the following scenarios:

Scenario Desire's Role Will's Role Outcome/Implication
Self-Control Urge for immediate gratification (e.g., junk food) Decision to prioritize long-term health (e.g., eat vegetables) Will overrides desire; demonstrates self-mastery.
Moral Dilemma Temptation to lie for personal gain Commitment to honesty and truth (moral duty) Will acts according to principle, despite desire.
Achieving Goals Aspiration for success (e.g., finishing a book) Discipline to sit down and write daily Will channels and sustains desire into action.
Addiction/Weakness Compulsive craving for a harmful substance Inability or struggle to resist the craving Desire overwhelms will; highlights vulnerability.

This interplay illuminates the very nature of human freedom. Are we slaves to our passions, or masters of our own destiny? The philosophers suggest that while desire is a given, the will is a faculty that can be cultivated and strengthened.

The Mind's Mediation: Rationality and Self-Governance

It is the Mind that serves as the crucial mediator in this internal dialogue. Through reason and reflection, the Mind can:

  1. Evaluate Desires: Assess the long-term consequences and moral implications of our impulses. Is this desire truly beneficial, or merely fleeting?
  2. Formulate Intentions: Translate abstract goals into concrete plans of action.
  3. Direct the Will: Empower the will to act in accordance with reasoned judgment, even when it means resisting powerful inclinations.
  4. Cultivate Virtues: As Aristotle argued, repeated acts of choosing the good, guided by practical wisdom, develop virtuous habits, making it easier for will to align with reason.

The capacity for self-governance, for Man to be the author of his own actions rather than merely a puppet of his appetites, is a hallmark of human dignity. This is where the Mind truly shines, enabling us to transcend mere instinct and live a life of conscious choice.

(Image: A classical marble sculpture depicting Hercules at the Crossroads, with two allegorical female figures representing Virtue and Vice, each beckoning him towards a different path. Hercules stands in contemplation, his gaze thoughtful, symbolizing the internal struggle between desire and duty, or pleasure and arduous self-improvement.)

The Human Predicament: Shaping the Self

The constant negotiation between desire and will is not just about individual choices; it's about the ongoing process of self-creation. Every decision, every moment where will asserts itself over a fleeting desire, or conversely, where a desire is rationally embraced, contributes to the kind of person we become.

The Great Books remind us that this struggle is fundamental to the human condition. From the ancient Greeks' emphasis on arete (excellence or virtue) achieved through rational control of passions, to the Christian tradition's focus on the will in overcoming sin, to Kant's insistence on moral autonomy, the message is clear: the interplay of desire and will, mediated by the Mind, is central to what it means to be Man. It is through this dynamic that we forge our character, define our freedom, and ultimately determine our moral trajectory.

Understanding the relationship between desire and will empowers us to navigate our inner landscape with greater awareness. It encourages us not to merely react to impulses, but to engage our rational faculties and strengthen our capacity for deliberate choice. This journey of self-mastery is a lifelong endeavor, one that philosophers have illuminated for millennia, urging us to consciously shape our lives rather than simply be shaped by them.

Video by: The School of Life

💡 Want different videos? Search YouTube for: ""Plato's Republic Appetites Reason Spirit" for an exploration of the soul's divisions."

Video by: The School of Life

💡 Want different videos? Search YouTube for: ""Kant Categorical Imperative Will Duty" for a deeper dive into Kantian ethics."

Share this post