人間の行動の動機付けに関するスピノザの見解

Abstract

A human being can show a very wide variety of behaviors, but this study is interested in a certain group of them : repetitious but non-reflexive behaviors, such as language study or a sightseeing journey. The author puts the following key definition : "A behavior x is extrinsically motivated" iff. x is conditioned to a certain situation, exclusively by a reward or punishment from without. The author then attributes to B. Spinoza the opinion that some human behaviors are not extrinscally motivated. To make this attribution certain is the purpose of this study. As an initial step, the author makes clear the most fundamental ideas of which Spinoza's philosophy consists : the double aspect theory, the association of ideas, the 'conatus' doctrine and the doctrine of three basic passions. Those ideas taken into consideration, what do we have to say about the behavior x of a person P? First, P tried to be conscious of x, and second, P had a belief that x would lead to pleasure. But where did that belief come from? Did it come exclusively from experiences of a reward from without? Spinoza says that when we are rational we get pleasure from being rational itself. So, the belief that being rational will lead to pleasure need not be said to be formed through stimuli from without, and we can say that being rational is not extrinsically motivated. This is why the author attributes to Spinoza the opinion that some human behaviors are not extrinsically motivated. Adding a short comment on a possibility of interpreting Spinoza's notion of 'freedom' by that of 'intrinsical motivation', the author concludes the study.