ABSTRACT
There are two good reasons for dwelling on the use of the term 'motive' and 'motivation' before proceeding to a detailed analysis of psychological theories. In the first place, the term 'motive' is used in specific sorts of contexts in ordinary language. Secondly, Motives are a particular class of reasons, which are distinguished by certain logical properties. The author's thesis is that the concept of 'motivation' has developed from that of 'motive' by attempting a causal interpretation of the logical force of the term. Motives are reasons for action which are asked for when there is an issue of justification as well as of explanation. Psychologists have developed quasi-causal theories to explain the directedness of behaviour. A study of the different psychological concepts of ordinary language encourages sensitivity to the different sorts of questions that can be asked about human actions and the different sorts of answers that are appropriate.
