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Actions vs Motives
Posted On 05/27/2008 09:25:16 by project9c5

So there have been lots of time where i've thought to myself what is the true way to tell if a decision or event was right or wrong. I've always come down to evaluating actions and motives. Sometimes it's easy, something wrong is done because of a wrong motive. Sometimes its not so easy. Sometimes good comes from evil intentions or evil comes from good intentions. I don't really want to start any debates on any paticular events just hear some peoples views of whether or not they believe actions carry more weight or the motives behind those actions when trying to decide if something is right or wrong.

I find this type of conflict to be always present within the characters I like in stories where their actions and motives are questionable, up to interpetation. Depending on your worldview they are either the protagonist or the antagonist it isn't forced by the writer. I like characters that are complex in this way. Where they kind of stand on the fence between good and evil. There's more but I'll see what kinds of responses I get, if any haha, it's been so long since I wrote a blog :-P

Tags: Thinking Bored



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Viewing 1 - 5 out of 7 Comments


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From: Trahern
06/26/2008 15:21:35

Motives ftw.

Motives are the goals of our actions.  They are what causes us to act.
We cannot predict the future.
And while we cannot control the future either, actions are our feeble attempts to do so.
So what's more important?
The intent to make the world a better place or bring it to ruin -
or the unpredictable result of putting effort towards that intent?
Would we be better off if our actions were without meaning?

Do not presume that you understand a motive based on its action.
Do not presume that you understand an action based on its outcome.
Do not presume that you understand the outcome.
Because you did not create it.
You are merely a spectator.

I think, therefore I am.
You are just a figment of my imagination.
... but you're a cute figment.

</batshitInsaneRambling>





From: project9c5
05/28/2008 10:06:18

Yes I personally do feel the strongest way to see the sum of someone's motives is by their actions. Mainly because usually we don't even fully understand ourselves as to why we do all of the things we do. The only real thing we have to go on is the perceptions we have of other's actions. Still though I don't want to totally forget the motives or the percieved motives I should say, they do play an important role in how we view and discerne the nature of an action.

Oh and cow, yeah Death Note, like every gundam series, code geass all come to mind right away when I think of characters who's actions and motives are up for debate haha. Anime's a good one here, as any other form of story telling lol.



From: Alistair
05/28/2008 02:27:49

Actions do have an absolute value, whereas motives can be interpreted in various ways, totally depending on your life experiences and point of view.

If you're looking for a subconscious resolve, then actions is where you look.  However if the whys and hows of that resolve is what you're looking for, then motive is where you start.  I don't think you'll ever find a concrete answer, since most of this is based on your personal presupositions.  But it doesn't hurt at all to see how others examine it!



From: Leiluna
05/28/2008 00:57:37

Actions, actions, actions!


Actions speak louder than words, remember?


People can lie easy about their motives - it's their actions that tell me what is really going on. Even if they're not lieing, never under estimate the lazy subconscious.


As nanny of two children, this is VERY dominant. They can say they want to learn all the want - but until they start putting in the work, it's obvoius that they don't want it as much as they say.


Actions. By far.



From: Kyleet
05/27/2008 22:56:49

Motives are more important. The problem comes though when person doesn't have the chance to make their motives known. Sometimes a lot of actions that people view as bad or wrong wouldn't ever happen in the first place if communication had been involved. As far as stories go, I really hate it when the writer pushes so hard for a certain character to be the absolute good guy or absolute bad guy. :3 I also hate it when they kill off my favorite characters.


But that happens ALL the time. It's like, mah curse... ;-;




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