> It is not necessary to acknowledge or even to know that you are behaving as part of some esoteric motivation, for it to be either a true or at least useful model. For example, think of "selfish gene" type explanation of reproductive / behavioral biology. That is a useful model for thinking about behavior even if the parties themselves talk about courtly love, religious morality, etc.

Very good point.

To give an example- oil companies advocate for the continued use of fossil fuels, because it is in their financial interest to do so. At the same time the employees of those companies have an interest to not screw up the planet completely for their own children and grandchildren. It's not as if those people are part of some dark conspiracy to destroy the environment, but they do seem to be trapped by the forces of the economy into which they have to participate.

Basically, you don't really need an "esoteric motivation" to have totally evil behaviour. You just need to be at the wrong position in the wrong organisation.