The Argument From Desire

photo courtesy of Ben Heine

 “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis

1st Premise: All natural desires can be satisfied by something that exists in reality.

There is sleep, for instance, to satisfy our longing for rest; food for hunger; knowledge for curiosity, and so on. These are all examples of natural desires, so called because it is in our nature to desire them.

Other than natural desires, there are also artificial longings, and it’s important to distinguish both. Philosopher Peter Kreeft noted 4 key differences:

1. Unlike natural desires, not all artificial longings can be satisfied by something that exists. Peter Kreeft gave the example of young boys’ desire to fly like Superman; but we know flying men don’t exist. Moreover, not everybody share the desire to take to the skies. This leads us to the next difference:
2. Natural desires are universal; artificial ones are personal. Going back to our earlier examples, the desire for rest, food, and knowledge are felt by everybody; artificial desires like power, fame and money are not. This second difference is due to the third:
3. Natural desires come from within and we innately long for them; artificial desires come from without and are only acquired from an outside source (i.e. culture, advertising, etc.).
4. The fourth difference is that unless our natural desires are satisfied, we feel depravity or a deep sense of lacking. Restlessness, hunger, and ignorance are experienced when somebody is deprived of rest, food, and knowledge. But can we live happily sans power, fame and money? Saints like Mother Theresa lived lives that prove that yes, it’s possible. In fact, they have shown us that freedom from artificial longings is the only path to real and lasting happiness. 

2nd Premise: There exists in all human beings a natural desire which nothing in this world can satisfy.

I’m happiest during get together with family and friends. But it’s bittersweet at best, for I must accept that in this life, all good things come to an end and goodbyes often come too soon. But suppose it doesn’t?  I imagined what would happen if the party went on forever and it didn’t take long for me to conclude that things would eventually get boring and cease to be fun.

No matter how well someone is doing in life, there will always be something missing. Peter Kreeft observed that even for atheist, there comes a time when one wonders: “is this all there is?”

In other words, everybody is longing for something that would give eternal happiness and at the same time, would never get boring; an indescribable, perpetual feeling of “joy-ness”. This natural desire which can neither be described nor found nor satisfied by anything in this world is actually our longing for heaven and our desire for God. Taking these two premises together bring us to the unavoidable…

Conclusion: God exists in reality.

The two most common objections to this argument are the following:

1. "If only I had more ____, I would be perfectly happy."

More what?

• Money? Studies show that suicide rates are directly proportional to wealth.
• Fame? Today’s so-called “hotties” will be tomorrows “has-beens”.
• Power? History has taught us that power tends to corrupt, and that the only power worth striving for is the one to overcome worldly desires.

This is a lesson that seems impossible for us to learn: nothing in this world satisfies; only in God can we find true and everlasting happiness.

2. "I am already perfectly happy and desire nothing more."

Feelings are subjective and thus, cannot be refuted. Therefore, the best response for such objections (or delusions) is, as Peter Kreeft suggests, making an appeal to honest introspection by asking:

"Are you really?"