Motivation for doing well in this life - Historum

Coriolis · January 21st, 2011, 08:15 AM

I wasn't sure whether to add this to the "what happens after you die" thread, because its related. But this is a different twist on the same question:

Which is a more powerful motivation for doing well (good things) in this life:

a. The prospect of rewards or punishment in an afterlife

b. The thought that we only get one chance and we can't undo the stupid things we do in this life.

If you don't believe in an after life, then it's a no-brainer. But if you do believe in an afterlife, and even believe in the possibility of consequences, isn't it preferable to do good simply because it's good?

**leakbrewergator** · January 21st, 2011, 08:20 AM

I'm a firm believer in karma. If you do wrong, then wrong will be done to you.

corrocamino · January 21st, 2011, 08:22 AM

Suicide bombers, then, are simply doing the just work of "karma"?

**Rasta** · January 21st, 2011, 09:46 AM

My motivation is to have a happy life. Simple. I don't do good things because I expect people to do good things for me. I do good things because it makes me happy to do good things. Conversely, acting in a negative manner adds negativity into my life. Not because I believe in a cosmic moral balancing force, but because I believe that our perceptions define our reality.

Tennenbaum · January 21st, 2011, 09:52 AM

Heidegger suggested that everything we do is motivated by the realization that we will at some point die. Some people are motivated to do "good things" and some people are motivated to do "bad things" by this knowledge.

I am personally motivated not to do good or bad things, but to do lasting things, to produce something that will live on after I am gone. In a way I think this is why humans are so drawn to art. It has a permanence of character imbued by the artist.

Tennenbaum · January 21st, 2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rasta

Not because I believe in a cosmic moral balancing force, but because I believe that our perceptions define our reality.

BERKELEYAN!! I knew it!

corrocamino · January 21st, 2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tennenbaum

Heidegger suggested that everything we do is motivated by the realization that we will at some point die. Some people are motivated to do "good things" and some people are motivated to do "bad things" by this knowledge.

I am personally motivated not to do good or bad things, but to do lasting things, to produce something that will live on after I am gone. In a way I think this is why humans are so drawn to art. It has a permanence of character imbued by the artist.

Have you told us about your art, T-baum? Inquiring minds want to know. And so do I...

Tennenbaum · January 21st, 2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corrocamino

Have you told us about your art, T-baum? Inquiring minds want to know. And so do I...

I weave baskets out of sea kelp.

**Rasta** · January 21st, 2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tennenbaum

BERKELEYAN!! I knew it!

Am I? I'm not familiar with the term.

**PADDYBOY** · January 21st, 2011, 10:15 AM

I'm a selfish git, but due to the fact that selfish gits tend to get persecuted by do-gooders (smug gits) I commit a good deed from time to time. Mainly to stop my friends and family from being ashamed of me, and it keeps them off my back.