Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[[Latin]] ''conation''-, ''conatio'' [[act]] of attempting, from ''conari'' to attempt  

[[Latin]] ''conation''-, ''conatio'' [[act]] of attempting, from ''conari'' to attempt  

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1837]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1837]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: an inclination (as an [[instinct]], a drive, a [[wish]], or a craving) to [[act]] [[purposefully]]

*1: an inclination (as an [[instinct]], a drive, a [[wish]], or a craving) to [[act]] [[purposefully]]

The term ''conation'' is no longer widely known—it is in "The 1,000 Most Obscure Words in the English Language," defined as "the area of one's active mentality that has to do with [[desire]], [[volition]], and striving", but a closer look turns up several [[references]] to conation as the third faculty of the [[mind]].

The term ''conation'' is no longer widely known—it is in "The 1,000 Most Obscure Words in the English Language," defined as "the area of one's active mentality that has to do with [[desire]], [[volition]], and striving", but a closer look turns up several [[references]] to conation as the third faculty of the [[mind]].

''Conation'' is defined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk_%26_Wagnalls Funk & Wagnalls] Standard Comprehensive International Dictionary (1977) as "the aspect of mental [[process]] directed by [[change]] and including [[impulse]], [[desire]], [[volition]] and striving," and by the ''Living Webster Encyclopedia Dictionary of the English Language'' (1980) as "one of the three [[modes]], together with [[cognition]] and [[affection]], of mental [[function]]; a [[conscious]] effort to carry out seemingly volitional acts." ''The Encyclopedia of Psychology "Motivation: Philosophical Theories''" says, "Some mental states seem capable of triggering [[action]], while others—such as [[cognitive]] states—apparently have a more subordinate role [in terms of [[motivation]]] ... some behavior qualifies as motivated [[action]], but some does not."

''Conation'' is defined by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk_%26_Wagnalls Funk & Wagnalls] Standard Comprehensive International Dictionary (1977) as "the aspect of mental [[process]] directed by [[change]] and including [[impulse]], [[desire]], [[volition]] and striving," and by the ''Living Webster Encyclopedia Dictionary of the English Language'' (1980) as "one of the three [[modes]], together with [[cognition]] and [[affection]], of mental [[function]]; a [[conscious]] effort to carry out seemingly volitional acts." ''The Encyclopedia of Psychology "Motivation: Philosophical Theories''" says, "Some mental states seem capable of triggering [[action]], while others—such as [[cognitive]] states—apparently have a more subordinate role [in terms of [[motivation]]] ... some behavior qualifies as motivated [[action]], but some does not."

While a [[method]] to [[measure]] conation has only been developed recently, the [[concept]] has been around since [[ancient]] times. The [[idea]] of conation, [[volition]] and [[Free will|will]] making up the third, [[action]]-driven part of the mind has traditionally been [[accepted]] by philosophers and psychologists.

While a [[method]] to [[measure]] conation has only been developed recently, the [[concept]] has been around since [[ancient]] times. The [[idea]] of conation, [[volition]] and [[Free will|will]] making up the third, [[action]]-driven part of the mind has traditionally been [[accepted]] by philosophers and psychologists.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle] spoke of the three faculties through which we [[think]], [[feel]] and [[act]]. George Brett in his "History of Psychology" added, "Augustine was not far from the same [[standpoint]] ... his [[language]] at times suggests the same three-fold division of knowing, feeling and willing."

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle Aristotle] spoke of the three faculties through which we [[think]], [[feel]] and [[act]]. George Brett in his "History of Psychology" added, "Augustine was not far from the same [[standpoint]] ... his [[language]] at times suggests the same three-fold division of knowing, feeling and willing."

In the 18th century, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Mendelssohn Moses Mendelssohn] (1729–1789) spoke of these three components of [[human being]]s in his "''Letters of Sensation''" (1755), in which he said that the [[fundamental]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faculties_of_the_soul faculties of the soul] are [[understanding]], [[feeling]] and [[Free will|will]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Nikolaus_Tetens Johannes Nikolaus Tetens] (1736–1805), sometimes called the "Father of Psychology" because of his introduction of the [[analytical]], [[introspective]] methods, believed that the three faculties of the [[mind]] not only existed, but were an [[expression]] of an underlying "respective [[spontaneity]] of the [[mind]]."

In the 18th century, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Mendelssohn Moses Mendelssohn] (1729–1789) spoke of these three components of [[human being]]s in his "''Letters of Sensation''" (1755), in which he said that the [[fundamental]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faculties_of_the_soul faculties of the soul] are [[understanding]], [[feeling]] and [[Free will|will]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Nikolaus_Tetens Johannes Nikolaus Tetens] (1736–1805), sometimes called the "Father of Psychology" because of his introduction of the [[analytical]], [[introspective]] methods, believed that the three faculties of the [[mind]] not only existed, but were an [[expression]] of an underlying "respective [[spontaneity]] of the [[mind]]."

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Kant Immanuel Kant]'s tripartite division of the [[mind]] gave psychology the support of the most influential philosopher of his day. In his "Critique of Pure Reason" (1781), "Critique of Practical Reason" (1788) and "Critique of Judgment" (1790), he discussed them [[transcendentally]] rather than [[empirically]]. In his classificatory scheme, pure [[reason]] corresponded to [[intellect]] or [[cognition]]; [[judgment]] to [[feeling]], [[pleasure]] or [[pain]], therefore [[affection]]; and practical reason to [[Free will|will]], [[action]] or ''conation''.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Kant Immanuel Kant]'s tripartite division of the [[mind]] gave psychology the support of the most influential philosopher of his day. In his "Critique of Pure Reason" (1781), "Critique of Practical Reason" (1788) and "Critique of Judgment" (1790), he discussed them [[transcendentally]] rather than [[empirically]]. In his classificatory scheme, pure [[reason]] corresponded to [[intellect]] or [[cognition]]; [[judgment]] to [[feeling]], [[pleasure]] or [[pain]], therefore [[affection]]; and practical reason to [[Free will|will]], [[action]] or ''conation''.

Kant said,

Kant said,

For many of the early philosophers and psychologists, ''conation'' was the instigation and regulation of [[behavior]]. It was what impelled [[action]], whereas the cognitive compelled.

For many of the early philosophers and psychologists, ''conation'' was the instigation and regulation of [[behavior]]. It was what impelled [[action]], whereas the cognitive compelled.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinoza Spinoza], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbes Hobbes] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descartes Descartes] were all involved in a [[goal]]-directed [[theory]] of [[motivation]]. An essential part of that theory was Spinoza's delineation of ''conatus'' as basic endeavor. He said it was the source of all striving, longing, [[ambition]] and [[self]]-[[expression]]. It was the tendency for a person to [[persist]] against [[obstacles]]. For these philosophers, conation was the very [[essence]] of the person, for, as Spinoza said, it was through ''conation'' that one persevered in one's own [[being]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conation]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinoza Spinoza], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbes Hobbes] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descartes Descartes] were all involved in a [[goal]]-directed [[theory]] of [[motivation]]. An essential part of that theory was Spinoza's delineation of ''conatus'' as basic endeavor. He said it was the source of all striving, longing, [[ambition]] and [[self]]-[[expression]]. It was the tendency for a person to [[persist]] against [[obstacles]]. For these philosophers, conation was the very [[essence]] of the person, for, as Spinoza said, it was through ''conation'' that one persevered in one's own [[being]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conation]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]