Final answer:
Desire is a strong feeling of wanting to attain something, often coupled with intent, while wish implies a lighter, more hypothetical hope or aspiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms desire and wish are often used interchangeably, but they carry distinct meanings. Desire can be defined as a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. It refers to a deeper or more intense level of want, often coupled with an intention or drive to obtain the desired object or outcome.
For instance, in satisfactionism, the fulfillment of an individual's desires is what leads to happiness, provided those desires are well-informed. Wish, on the other hand, is used in a lighter or more hypothetical sense. It can refer to a hope or aspiration for something that may not be as tangible or immediately attainable. In grammatical terms, the subjunctive mood is often used to express wishes, highlighting their hypothetical nature.
In the context of economics, desire can be paired with the ability to obtain something to define demand. Without the power to obtain what one desires, demand does not exist, and thus desire alone is not sufficient to influence market behavior.
Similarly, in the context of literature and character analysis, the desires and wishes of characters can have deep symbolic meanings, further distinguishing the two terms by exploring their emotional or narrative implications.