Hidden intentions: a philosophical and psychological problem.

Originally Posted On Publish0x

Have you ever felt that there is something more behind what you see? That there are hidden forces manipulating reality at will? That there are truths being hidden from us and lies being sold to us? In the next few installments, I will tell you about various conspiracy theories involving the SEC, the U.S. government and cryptocurrencies. But before we get into it, I want you to know what ulterior motives are and why they are so important to understanding human behavior. Second intentions are the hidden or unstated motives that drive people's actions. Sometimes they are conscious, sometimes not. Sometimes they are noble, sometimes not. But they are always there, influencing what we do and say. Want to know more? Discover the dark side of reality.

First of all I want to thank @dgoodgarcia at Publish0x because his comment on one of my articles served as motivation.

What drives us to do what we do? What do we look for when we act? What do we expect from others? These are some of the questions we ask ourselves when we reflect on our intentions. But what are intentions? According to philosophy, intentions are that which is immediately before the mind, whether it is a representation of something external to it (first intention) or of the intellect itself (second intention). The first intentions are concepts that refer to real things, while the second intentions are concepts referring to concepts.

But intentions are not only concepts, but also tendencies, desires, ends or purposes that orient our action. In this sense, we can speak of ethical intentions, which are those that refer to the good or evil of our actions. These intentions can be explicit or implicit, manifest or hidden, sincere or false. Sometimes we say what we mean and do what we say, but sometimes we do not. Sometimes we have only one intention when we act, but sometimes we have several. Sometimes our intentions coincide with those of others, but sometimes they conflict.

This is where the problem of ulterior motives arises. What are ulterior motives in an ethical sense? We could define them as those hidden or concealed intentions that do not correspond to what we say or appear to be. They are those intentions that lead us to act with duplicity, hypocrisy, deceit or manipulation. They are those intentions that make us distrust others and suspect that they also have ulterior motives. They are those intentions that make us see the world as a hostile and dangerous place, where no one tells the truth or acts for the common good.

What would the world be without ulterior motives? Would it be a fairer, more peaceful, happier world? Or would it be a more naïve, more vulnerable, more boring world? Can we live without ulterior motives? Can we trust others without fear of being betrayed? Can we act for the good without expecting anything in return? These are some of the questions that philosophy poses when it invites us to think about our intentions and those of others.

To delve deeper into the subject of second intentions, we can turn to some contributions from psychology, which help us to better understand the mental and emotional mechanisms involved in this phenomenon. From this perspective, we can analyze ulterior motives from three angles: power, motivation and communication.

Power: Second intentions can be related to the desire to exert power over others or over situations. Power can be understood as the ability to influence the behavior or decisions of others. Some people may have ulterior motives to gain or maintain power, either out of ambition, fear, or insecurity. For example, someone may lie about his or her qualifications to get a job, or someone may feign interest in another person to gain some benefit.

Power is not necessarily a negative thing, as long as it is exercised ethically and responsibly, respecting the dignity and freedom of others. However, when power is used in an abusive or manipulative way, it becomes a source of conflict and suffering. Second intentions can be a way of exercising hidden power, which is neither assumed nor recognized, but disguised or justified by other reasons. This can generate distrust, resentment and hostility in interpersonal relationships.

Motivation: Second intentions can also be related to motivation, that is, to the set of internal or external factors that drive a person to act in a certain way. Motivation can be intrinsic or extrinsic, depending on whether it comes from the individual or from the environment. Intrinsic motivation is based on the interest, pleasure or satisfaction produced by the activity itself, while extrinsic motivation is based on incentives, rewards or sanctions from the outside.

Some people may have ulterior motives for extrinsic motivation, i.e., to obtain something that is not related to the activity they are doing, but to the consequences they hope to obtain. For example, someone may study hard to get good grades and please his or her parents, or someone may do a favor for another to gain his or her sympathy or gratitude.

Extrinsic motivation is not necessarily a negative thing, as long as it is not the only source of motivation and does not contradict intrinsic motivation. However, when extrinsic motivation is based on ulterior motives, it can lead to a lack of authenticity and consistency in behavior. Second intentions can be a way of hiding or denying the true motivation, which may be unconscious or repressed for some reason. This can generate frustration, anxiety and guilt in the person acting with ulterior motives.

Communication: Second intentions can also be related to communication, i.e., the process of exchanging information between two or more people. Communication can be verbal or nonverbal, depending on whether it is based on oral or written language or other signs such as gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice. Communication can be congruent or incongruent, depending on whether or not there is consistency between what is said and what is done or felt.

Some people may have ulterior motives for communicating incongruently, that is, for sending contradictory or confusing messages to others. For example, someone may say one thing and do another, or someone may express one feeling and show another. These people may have ulterior motives to deceive, confuse or influence others, or to protect themselves from possible criticism or rejection.

Incongruent communication is not necessarily a negative thing, as long as it is occasional and does not affect the quality of the relationship. However, when incongruent communication is based on ulterior motives, it can lead to a lack of clarity and honesty in the exchange. Second intentions can be a way of avoiding or distorting reality, which can be painful or uncomfortable for the person communicating with second intentions. This can lead to misunderstanding, conflict and mistrust in others.

Second intentions are a philosophical and psychological problem that affects our way of thinking, feeling and acting, they can have diverse causes and consequences, but in general they imply a lack of transparency and coherence in our behavior. These can hinder our relationship with ourselves and with others, as they prevent us from expressing our true identity, thoughts and goals in life.

Remember that in my next articles I will tell you about several conspiracy theories involving the SEC, the U.S. government and cryptocurrencies, if you are interested in this kind of topics I would appreciate if you let me know in the comments.

 “Everyone has their own forms of expression. I think we all have a lot to say, but finding ways to say it is more than half the battle" - Criss Jami.

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth" - Marcus Aurelius.

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Author's Note: The opinion expressed here is not investment advice, is provided for informational purposes only, and reflects the opinion of the author only. I do not promote, endorse or recommend any particular investment. Investments may not be right for everyone. Every investment in the market and every trade you make involves risk, so you should always do your own research before making any decision. I do not recommend investing money that you cannot afford to chair, as you could lose the entire amount invested.