When being passionate is admirable, what is the essence of what makes it admirable?
Beginning Story: Paula has always wanted to be a doctor. As she got older, she began to understand the great amount of effort and dedication that goes along with that career. However, she never once doubted her ability and drive. In high school, she attended college seminars on becoming a doctor. She also subscribed to a magazine for aspiring doctors, and she read it religiously. Throughout college, as in high school, she was consistently at the top of her class due to her devotion to her studies. She also volunteered her time at a local clinic in order to gain valuable experience. While her friends were out partying, she was concentrating on her studies. After several years in college she graduated magna cum laude and began her career as a surgeon soon thereafter.
By this story we can see that Paula was truly passionate and devoted to becoming a doctor. The passion she has can be seen as truly virtuous. The time and effort that she puts forth in accomplishing her goal is amazing. She goes the "extra mile" in order to immerse herself in the world of medicine. She does nothing short of her best when it comes to her goal.
Possible description of the essence #1 Going the "extra mile" is the root of passion's goodness.
[This student now takes this description #1 as the W to be critically examined and clarified]
Counterexample to description #1: Brian grew up in a family of countless generations of engineers. His father had always pushed Brian to join in the family business. Brian wanted to please his father no matter what it cost. He had always dreamed of becoming a guitarist but his father obviously did not approve. In college, Brian studied engineering; he worked at an engineering firm and kept up with the ever growing world of engineering. He even spent his weekends working with his father on his engineering work. He was submerged in the world of engineering. However, deep down Brian was not happy with his life. He longed to be a guitarist - he loved making music.
Reflection on this counterexample: From this story we can see that Brian went the extra mile when it came to engineering. However, he was miserable because he was not following his dreams and doing what he loved. He succumbed to the pressure from his father to pursue a career that did not make him truly happy. Therefore, it is not enough to "go the extra mile," something else must be present.
Clarifying refinement #2, a revision of description #1: Going the "extra mile" and doing something you love is at the root of passion's goodness.
[This student now takes this clarifying refinement #2 as the W to be critically examined and clarified]
Counterexample to this theory: Jamie works at an Internet company that has just started up. She loves her job because she knows that it will soon make her rich. She could not think of another job that would make her happier. She comes in early and works late Monday through Friday. Mostly she loves her job because she knows that soon she will be chief financial officer and will earn more money than most people she knows. She shows no overall enthusiasm in what she is doing and tends to go by the book on everything she does. She is the perfect employee because she is always working, but she shows no excitement for what she does.
Reflection on this counterexample: Here our character has fit into the description of the existing theory. However, she is lacking in a certain pizzazz that is associated with people who are passionate. Her love for her job is strictly because of the money and not something that can be admired as virtuous. Therefore, we must add to the theory something that describes a person's inner drive for what they are doing.
Clarifying refinement #3: Going the "extra mile" and doing something you love in which your motivation comes from a driving force from inside of you and which exhibits great enthusiasm is at the root of passion's goodness.
From these counterexamples we have seen what occurs when true passion is mulled or is totally lacking. Our story about Brian is an example of what occurs when true passion for something is repressed. Here, it was repressed by the forceful wishes of his father. Because Brian conformed to his father's wishes he ended up unhappy and feeling incomplete. To repress passion is dangerous. It is dangerous because it is unfulfilling, boring, tortuous, conforming, and uninspiring. It can leave a person numb to the world around them because having the knowledge that your dreams can never be fulfilled kills the soul that wants to dance inside of you. It is also dangerous because it can terminate any chance of you becoming something great. For example if Thomas Jefferson had repressed his feelings of becoming a great leader in America, would we have such things as the Constitution? In this story, maybe Brian would have become a wonderful musician and toured the world. We can never truly be happy unless we follow our passions.
In the story about Jamie passion seems to be lacking completely from this woman's life. What she is truly governed by is her craving for success and money. This is nothing to hold in high regard. I say this because in the grand scheme of things these two aspects of life are insignificant. This demonstrates a shallow, egotistical, unadventurous, and incomplete way to live. She is not addressing the desires that her soul and mind have that would make her truly happy. She is covering up her real desires with those of the material world. This may make her happy for the time being, but it has been my experience that one day you wake up and realize that you've wasted your life working for things that in the end have no meaning. Although, some people realize that too late and that is devastating. Therefore, preoccupation with material rewards can kill true passion and it can be totally lacking from your life.
Following is a list of words that are closely associated with 'the goodness of passion: Feeling Complete Fulfilling Exciting Uplifting Soul Satisfying Wonderful Inspiring Rewarding Gratifying Zest Craving Emotional Extreme Bold Meaningful Effort Dedication Consistency Concentration immersion Following Dreams Longing Love Enthusiasm Pizzazz Inner Drive Nonconformity Adventurous Desires Drive Doing your Best Happiness Driving Force
To further narrow down and refine the theory of the essence, I will attempt to use the words listed above. However, the problem with words alone is that they are vague. One word in the English language can have several meanings depending upon how it is used. Therefore, it is necessary to go beyond using words but to rather use ideas and thoughts composed of many words. What we are after here is to recognize which words are causes and conditions of the essence, which describe the actual essence, and those that are a result of having the essence. By doing this we will come closer to the essence that is at the root of the goodness of passion. The causes and conditions of the essence are those words that are a part of what leads up to the essence. Words such as doing your best, concentration, consistency, longing and love. They are conditions which are associated with leading up to the actual root of the goodness. I believe that they are essential to getting to the essence but they are not at the core. You can ask yourself, "can there be good passion without concentration, consistency, love and longing?" I believe the answer is yes. These are things that good passion can exist without and therefore are not at the root of the goodness. Therefore, we must look beyond these words in order to get to the essence.
Another category we must address is the one that comes from having the essence, but is actually a product of the essence. It is a result of the good passion. Words such as feeling complete, soul satisfying, gratifying, rewarding and fulfilling. These words all give you the feeling of something that has been accomplished, a final product. They are the end result of the good passion and it can exist without them. Therefore, we must eliminate them from our path that we are taking towards grasping the essence. We must now address the words that are at the root of the essence.
As mentioned above, an important question to ask when looking for a description of the essence is, "can good passion exist without this?" Above I have described many words that would allow you to answer "yes" to this question. However, words such as emotional, nonconforming, pizzazz, bold, zest, meaningful, and inner drive will give the answer "no!" These words are at the core of the essence. They are words that demonstrate what the essence truly means. Passion is a spark of life that exists within someone; a deep force within them that exhibits amazing energy. These words explain the feeling that you get when you think of someone with the gift of passion. Good passion cannot exist without these words because they are the essential ingredients. Of course, there are many other words and phrases you can use to describe good passion, but to me these are the words that pinpoint the essence. The essence cannot exist without them.
My final theory for the essence can be explained as follows: A deep driving force from within that is sparked by an amazing energy inside. This exhibits zest, pizzazz, enthusiasm and boldness. It is nonconforming and follows that which makes it happiest and most fulfilled. A wonderful motivation that comes from the depths of the soul. To attain this kind of good passion is to increase the expression of the life inside of you without holding back. There can be no half attempt; it must be whole hearted. It is an amazing virtue and those who have it are truly fulfilled with their lives.
Finally, I would like to cite certain problems with my attempt to explain the essence that is the root of good passion. First of all, as explained previously, simple words are not adequate to describe something of such magnitude as passion. In fact, it feels rather silly to try and explain something that is so terrific as is passion Words do not do it justice. Secondly, my discussion could have taken many different twists and turns while using the Socratic discussion method. Therefore, the conclusions I have come to are far from any final answer. The purpose is not to come to any final answer but to explore all aspects of the goodness. Lastly, progress can always be made, and the theories given above are only the beginning.