Most Powerful Motivators

[ThinkingSapien]

I was listening to a recorded presentation and heard some one make the assertion that in history the motivators for some of the projects in which humanity has engaged that were the most expensive (in terms of capital or human effort) had motivations that could fall in one of three categories. In the order in which they were presented :

1. • War/threats - (the we don’t want to die mentality)
   • Prospect of gaining great financial wealth
   • Praise of figures that are at least thought to be deities
   Examples the speaker provided for these included
   • Great wall of China (war/protection)
   • Pyramids (deity)
   • Apollo Project (war, fear of Russians)
   • Manhattan Project (war)
   • Magellan Voyages (financial)
   • Columbus Voyages (financial)
   • Cathedral Building (deity)
   The speaker thought the war/threat motivator was the strongest and most common among these. Was kind of curious as to what others may think about these and if one can find disagreement with them.

 

[Shike]

Interesting!

I guess it depends on what is greatness. The creation of the Statue of Liberty seems to me like a great achievement and seems to be a counter-example. At the very least my example points the way for artistic expression and beauty as a possible greatness motivator.

 

[Sair]

Maybe the ‘greatness’, as such, of the achievements themselves, at least as objects, is largely illusory. Certainly, constructions such as the Great Wall of China, or York Minster (I’ve been to the top of it, and the view is magnificent) are impressive and a testament to the abilities of humans when they are motivated (or forced) to work cooperatively, but would they have done any actual good, absent the perception they were necessary in the light of their respective motivations - such as the fear of invasion, or the apparent need to worship/appease a deity? If we take as a measure of greatness the welfare benefits such achievements have bestowed upon people by their existence, how great are they, really?

 

[inocente]

The speaker seems to have only chosen examples which fit his hypothesis, for instance the LHC is left out.

Also it oversimplifies - for instance although Apollo may have been financed as part of the cold war, those working on it were more likely motivated by wanting to be part of the adventure and wanting the adventure to succeed.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

The speaker seems to have only chosen examples which fit his hypothesis, for instance the LHC is left out.

I considered that. I’m wondering if the the speaker would have allowed the Hoover dam to be on that list.

Maybe the ‘greatness’, as such, of the achievements themselves, at least as objects, is largely illusory. … If we take as a measure of greatness the welfare benefits such achievements have bestowed upon people by their existence, how great are they, really?

I guess it depends on what is greatness.

I think he was looking at the expense of the project. Though if you want to see the section of his speech in which this assertion was made you can see it here. youtu.be/ErZq2ZQQTrs?t=7m11s. Jump straight to 7 minutes into the video and let it play for 2.5 minutes or so (the entire video was 2 hours long, but the clip of interest is in that time range). The speaker’s intent had to do with promoting the space program for the USA.

 

[JDaniel]

I considered that. I’m wondering if the the speaker would have allowed the Hoover dam to be on that list.

TS:

A good question.

I think he was looking at the expense of the project. Though if you want to see the section of his speech in which this assertion was made you can see it here. youtu.be/ErZq2ZQQTrs?t=7m11s. Jump straight to 7 minutes into the video and let it play for 2.5 minutes or so (the entire video was 2 hours long, but the clip of interest is in that time range). The speaker’s intent had to do with promoting the space program for the USA.

I think the most powerful motivators are almost always self-aggrandizing. Not always, but “almost” always. When the, “What’s in it for me,” is removed, from what I have seen first hand, the care taken in the job is dramatically reduced. A job will get done, under these circumstance, but, down the road, the wall may fall on top of a few people, killing them.

God bless, TS,
jd