Thursday, July 7, 2016

Locomotility and Will to Grow

According to the almost universally accepted concept of Psychology, Locomotility functions as a means to an end, in which the end is a representation of a correction of some problem in the given situation, e. g. the representation of drinking water, as a correction to thirst, that initiates motion towards water.  Implicit in that model is that Locomotility requires some representation to initiate it, and, hence, lacks autonomy.  Or, in other words, if need never arose, the organism would remain in one place.  Now, the fundamental flaw with this model is suggested by Nietzsche--it is a Psychology of Weakness, of behavior that is only ever a reaction to some deficiency, in contrast with which is the Psychology of Strength, which consists in a spontaneous surplus of energy.  Similarly, the Will to Live consists in the effort to remain alive in the face of threats, whereas the Will to Grow, often experienced as a feeling of restlessness, is constantly pushing beyond achieved levels.  So, Locomotility can be conceived as the fundamental manifestation of the Will to Grow, and, hence, as autonomous.  Thus, for example, Marcuse's model of Socialism, which, as derived from a gratification-seeking, i. e. end-orientated, impulse, Eros, is an expression of a Psychology of Weakness.

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