The suggestion from a recent episode of Modern Wisdom with Arthur Brooks as guest is that Thomas Aquinas offered the idea of four idols. I heard Brooks have the same discussion a few months later on a podcast with Dr. Jordan Peterson.
Aquinas posited that there are four motivators we’re each subject to in some way. Each of these pull at us with different strengths yet none of these offer true happiness or satisfaction. We’re encouraged to explore which of these we find most compelling. Which of the four are we most moved by?
Aquinas believed that we’re each pulled more by one of these than the others. Moreover, the idol that has magnetic power over us draws us to making less than ideal choices. Aquinas believed that anytime we decided in the direction of our strongest idol we were more likely to act in a way that we would subsequently regret. These idols, in others words, are false values.
1700 years ago, The Catholic saint Augustine Aurelius offered, “We are shaped most not by what we think, not by what we do, but by what we love.” We are what we do, but we do what we love or value. Our actions reflect our values. Show me your calendar and I’ll tell you your values. Show me your bank statement and I’ll tell you your values. How we spend our time and our money reflects what we care about. “What we love most at any given moment controls our lives at that moment.” Murphy suggests contemplating three questions to determine what it is you love most: “What do I dream about? What do I worry about? What do I get upset about?” An additional question to consider is to what are you attached? Our purpose is our highest value. Our highest value makes us feel most alive.
Marcus Aurelius observed, “The true worth of a man is measured by the objects he pursues.”
The four idols are: purse/pocketbook, pleasure, power, and prestige.
Purse or pocketbook is money or wealth. It’s the coins in your coffer, the bills in your billfold, and the gold that you hold. What have you accumulated in your account? Is it more than average? Do you want to have more than others? How much more? Where does the pursuit of money rank as a motivator for you? Those that prize money consider their self-worth to equal their net worth. Currency is how they keep score.
Pleasures are about indulgences. Are we driven by hedonistic impulses? Those drawn to pleasure enjoy the sweet things in life like dessert. These are the foodies that flock to the latest and greatest eatery. They love entertainment, theatre, movies, even a good book. Anything to be entertained and have fun in the moment. Travel, too, is the purview of pleasure seekers. The magnet of pleasure produces those that ascribe to retail therapy. There’s no funk that can’t be lifted by a little fun and frivolity. They’re delighted to go dancing at the discotheque. Shots at the club sound like fun. These pleasure seekers are in perpetual pursuit of a party. Proponents of pleasure prioritize the here and now over tomorrow. Consequences are ignored or discounted in favor of fun today.
Power is about control over others. Are you interested in telling people what to do? On a continuum with libertarian or personal autonomy on one end and authoritarian or control on the other where would you place yourself? Those driven by power like authoritarian ideas. Those that like power like telling others how to behave. They also don’t mind being told what to do. Those with an aversion to power prize independence, autonomy, and personal liberty. Pursuers of power believe in a ruling class. They think people should be controlled. Surveillance is valuable to power seekers. Fans of power had a great time during Covid. They happily adopted masks and reported on neighbors. There was no rule too strict for their liking. More rules equals “safer.” Those hungry for power are like the South Park character Cartman wheeling around his neighborhood shouting through his bullhorn to “respect my authority.”
Prestige is fame. It doesn’t have to be widespread, societal recognition. It can be about being noticed in a niche. Prestige is how we’re perceived in the eyes of others. Are we motivated by credentials and awards to earn recognition? Do we consider success achieving status in our social group? Those that desire prestige feel that victory is being validated. Do we like, likes? Do the ideas of being recognized or held in adulation or achieving honor resonate?
Many books and movies present characters that represent each of these archetypes. For example, Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead offers Ellsworth Toohey as one motivated purely by power. Peter Keating, the architect, as afflicted with the desire to be adulated, appreciated, and motivated by prestige. The print magnate, Gail Wynand, is presented as one motivated by money.
Brooks encourages us to consider that we can have not zero but the population average of a given idol. Then give thought to, of the four, which would having the average amount of not be sufficient? Of the four, which do we want the most? He encourages us to evaluate these four backwards by asking in which are we least interested? Which of money, pleasure, power, or prestige are of least interest? Ween out the weaker influences first and back yourself into determining your deepest temptation.
Working through this exercise for myself, I consider power as the least tempting. I value personal autonomy. I want to choose how I spend my time. I have an aversion to obligations. A sense of duty doesn’t compel me. Nor do I get excited by any opportunity to direct others. I don’t want to tell others what to do or how to behave. I am interested in charting my own course without interfering in the lives of others. One of my mantras is MMIOO or to Minimize My Impact On Others. Power over others or being controlled by others is of the least interest to me.
Power is something I could do without. The thing I dislike the most is when others have power over me. I don’t like being told what to do or to have my actions/behaviors/decisions limited or controlled by others. Being subject to the discretion of others is deeply disturbing to me. Because it is the position I most don’t want to be in, I don’t want to have this same form of power over others. I don’t want to tell others what to do. I want to see them flourish by making their own constructive and productive decisions. I value the role of Anteambulo. This is a role which helps others get what they want. I’m not interested in pushing them to my way of thinking. I don’t want others under my thumb. I want to see them go their way. I want to help them help themselves.
Of the three remaining idols, pleasure would be next to discard. I’m not chasing fun and frivolity all day. I don’t want to feel dopamine hits and pleasant feelings. Having “discipline” as a core value, I’m nervous about “fun.” The things that are easy, pleasant, and comfortable are things I have slowly come to recognize as not worthwhile, not fulfilling, and not helpful to becoming a better person. I recognize that pleasure is something we can never have enough of. Fun is fleeting. It may feel momentarily good, but the feelings evaporate. We’re left with an emptiness that must be filled again and again. Chasing our impulses and urges makes us less human and more like an animal. Pleasure seeking is allowing our impulses and drives to rule. We’re reflexive as opposed to intentional. It’s the opposite of a fulfilling and meaningful existence.
Now I’m down to two idols: prestige and money. Money is of some interest. I’m not consumed with accumulating, but I like the security money provides. I also like it as a source of independence. Money is a tool to allow me to do the things I want. Money is also a way to keep score. It’s a sign of doing some things right. Money has some appeal. However, I’m not trading all waking hours of my life in exchange for a few dollars. Yes, I would like more than the population average, but I don’t need to be top tier in this category.
Fame is not something I seek. I have an affinity for anonymity. I am happy being invisible. Nonetheless, the power of prestige is prominent. I buy the idea of status as success. I believe you are what you do. If you have a title or large responsibility, you must be on the right track. Recognition is something I find attractive. I have been compelled to chase the cookie crumbs of credentials. Striving to achieve an alphabet soup after my name has been attractive. Earning as many designations across fields as possible is alluring. So, too, is winning things. I like medals and trophies. I was rewarded with attention, recognition, and stuff when I did things as a kid. Gold stars got me to go far.
I like being viewed as the top dog. Competing for the top of the heap is motivating. Titles, too, are titillating. To be a President, a Lord, or an Honorable representative is intoxicating. Chasing credentials and accolades put me in a position to be easily manipulated. I let myself be led by someone else’s leash. I can see the temptation of social media and likes. Yes, views and likes and positive comments all feel rewarding. As I’ve noted in The Alphabet of Accomplishment, V is Victory is Validation of Values. I see recognition of one’s actions or “winning” as a validation of a closely held value. Yes, tickle my ego and you can get me to go, go, go.
Being driven by a desire to be seen is no way to make sound decisions. It makes you susceptible to being played by master manipulators. It also makes you vulnerable to pride. When you’ve earned status and received recognition, you become more interested in preserving it than earning it. In Inner Excellence, Jim Murphy observes that “What we love most at any given moment controls our lives at that moment.” For example, Murphy wrote, “Love popularity most, and insecurity will follow us everywhere.” The idol of adulation or fame carries a cost as do all idols. If we crave the approval of others, we will constantly compare ourselves to others. Moreover, we’re more likely to conform to the wishes of others seeking to impress them while living less authentically.
However, Will Storr in The Status Game suggested that status can be achieved in several ways, not all destructive. Storr thought dominance, competence, or virtue were each an avenue to achieving approval and status from others. Those drawn to seeking status may find a path that involves not selling one’s soul. Seek to develop competence and act with virtue. Try to make the world a little better of a place. These are ways we may be able to win the respect race.
If I try to put a positive spin on my desire to be recognized, I want to be respected. I want to be seen as competent and capable. I want these things in order to contribute. I do want to feel like I have made a difference in some way. I want to be “seen” or “appreciated” or “valued.” I am not sure if I need this to be public, but I want to be able to tell myself a story that my actions matter always (MAMA) and that I’ve somehow left the world a little better because of my life. So, fame is lame, but validation is valued. My pull is more from am I making a difference? Am I contributing? Am I adding value? This is more motivating to me than money. Am I adding value to others in some way? My goal of I want to help 1,000 people become millionaires is as motivating today as it was 30 years ago when I first began chewing on it. It doesn’t matter how I do it, if I’m focused on looking out at the world and seeing how I can help others achieve their goals in some way, I know there will always be a place where I’m of use. This is a positive pull for me.
I’m not “looking” for validation or admiration from the masses. Yes, I’d like to make an impact of some sort. But it doesn’t need to be widespread. I am content and comfortable with knowing that my efforts have touched a small number of people. I want to help those I care about make progress on the things they care about. I want to help those I care about help themselves. It’s not the world I’m trying to save or make an impact upon, it’s those closest to me: family, friends, clients. Depth of impact as opposed to breadth of impact as inspiring.
I’ve heard in different contexts the idea expressed similarly of seeking to avoid being afflicted with Affluenza and its five symptoms: PALMS: Possessions, Achievements, Looks, Money, and Status. Each one of these can be tempting objectives that lead us down dangerous paths. As we enter the New Year, consider giving some thought to how you weight these influences in your actions.
