Of course not. I do things all the time without the reward existing outside myself. I eat because I’m hungry, and to my mind, although I can imagine all kinds of things that benefit from my not being hungry, I think it’s safe to say that I eat primarily because I don’t want to be hungry (I assume the brain’s goal system is this shallow when it comes to hunger, though it may be deeper and I just don’t know it).
So, you’ve never achieved anything in your life without some kind of external carrot or stick, then? Is that what you’re saying?
Of course not. I do things all the time without the reward existing outside myself. I eat because I’m hungry, and to my mind, although I can imagine all kinds of things that benefit from my not being hungry, I think it’s safe to say that I eat primarily because I don’t want to be hungry (I assume the brain’s goal system is this shallow when it comes to hunger, though it may be deeper and I just don’t know it).