Intrinsic Motivation
The language of the Bhagavad Gita is the most stunningly grandiose writing I have ever read. The revalation of Krishna is rich and heavy enough to force a respectful bow and pull at least a few glorious tears.
Beyond the writing is the Gita’s purpose as a major outline of Hindu religious philosophy. The major idea described is of our attachment to the outcomes of our actions; only by severing our connections to the products of our work can we escape endless reincarnation.
As a result, a completely sacrificial act in which the consequences accrue only to the divine must also be performed only for the act itself. That is, the act would not be entirely sacrificial unless it were performed without thinking of its impact (be it on the divine or individual).
This is the concept that I cannot understand. It seems to me that total intrinsic motivation – which the Gita calls for – is not possible simply because of human rationality and the nature of actions themselves. Every action has an impact of some sort, and humans instinctively analyze the impact for, if nothing else, safety purposes.
In the event that someone was able to somehow achieve this detachment, they would have performed that action because they were aware of the impact it would have on the state of their spirit.
This is not an issue of culture or habituation; it is a matter of innate decision-making abilities that require knowledge of an action’s possible outcomes.
Oliver Zheng
Mar 31, 07:05 PM
As I learned in psychology class, intrinsic motivation is defined as unconditional desire to achieve something without physical things in return. Like you said, according to its definition, it’s technically impossible to have intrinsic motivation for anything because humans depend on the impacts of our actions.
But generally, it’s used to describe something larger, such as a job or love. If we are intrinsicly motivated to do our job well (in other words, we like our job), we will do it even if we don’t get much money in return. This makes the distinction and recognition of levels of jobs, blue/white collar, possible. Otherwise, no one would want a crummy job that pays less.
tarun
Mar 31, 08:15 PM
This really nice commentary that I came across talks of a dilemna (http://tarun.weblogs.us/2006/02/08/a-dilemna-in-search-of-the-truth)
Thame
Apr 1, 07:45 AM
Oliver:
“But generally, it’s used to describe something larger, such as a job or love. If we are intrinsicly motivated to do our job well (in other words, we like our job), we will do it even if we don’t get much money in return. This makes the distinction and recognition of levels of jobs, blue/white collar, possible. Otherwise, no one would want a crummy job that pays less.”
I don’t know if I’m looking to much into the idea of detachment, but in the case you described, you would be aware of the consequences of your actions (you can either look for another job or accept the pay cut) and you would decide to do the latter because you liked your job.
Tarun:
Thanks, good article.
Nick A
Mar 3, 10:46 AM
If it has no effects, and no causes, can we really describe it as an action? How would you know you had performed it?
This reminds me of one (in my view mistaken) line of debate on free will, which seeks to find it in total isolation from causation.
I think Krishna’s point is less problematic: transcendental motivations trump more mundane considerations. The concept of a sacrifice (the latter for the former) then makes sense.
As your linked article puts it:
“First, Krishna analytically explains that fighting in His service is transcendental and will bring no sinful reaction… Krishna thus encourages Arjuna to remain fixed in His service – fight – and ignore his mind’s desires.
sukumar
Mar 23, 04:02 AM
“First, Krishna analytically explains that fighting in His service is transcendental and will bring no sinful reaction… Krishna thus encourages Arjuna to remain fixed in His service – fight – and ignore his mind’s desires.”
A very good commentary.
Probably a mundane concern – “whether Arjuna was attracted by the comments of his service being transcendental and that no sinful reaction was possible and thus his continued fight was not again intrinsically motivated?”
A research said to have been conducted Steven Reiss debunks the theory of intrinsic motivation
Mary G
Apr 4, 09:55 PM
Pardon me for intruding on your conversation, but I stumbled upon your site and I like your discussions a lot.
In response to the comments above, may I add that I like what Joseph Campbell said about Krishna encouraging Arjuna to fight, that it is about saying “yes” to life. I think instead of “detaching” from the experience this means to let go of the expectations for outcome, let go of the designation of “good” or “bad”. It’s living in the moment that counts.