Motives are constituted by projecting beyond a situation toward change

Evidence

If we recall the principle which we established earlier—namely that it is the apprehension of a revolution as possible which gives to the workman’s suffering its value as a motive—we must thereby conclude that it is by fleeing a situation toward our possibility of changing it that we organize this situation into complexes of causes and motives. — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 1072

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes the core Sartrean claim that the project toward change retroactively constitutes motives — foundational for the freedom/bad faith machinery.
• XREF: Directly sets up Beauvoir’s Ethics of Ambiguity on freedom and situation. — connects to: Cause is the objective situation apprehended as a means toward a presupposed end — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 1086; Past motives become objective things, collapsing the distinction between cause and motive — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 1092; Recognizing gaps between one’s actual behavior and egalitarian ideals motivates change through compunction — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 121 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Recognizing gaps between one’s actual behavior and egalitarian ideals motivates change through compunction #exemplifies (0.75) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 121
• Perceiving possibilities for freedom enables breaking with existing patterns. #expands (0.75) — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 13
• Inner conflict between values and prejudice generates guilt that motivates change #exemplifies (0.72)
• Being conscious of one’s motives already places them outside the self #expands (0.70) — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 1075