What am I doing?: Bug testing a program for my thesis. (A mathematical computation.)
Why?: Because I want it to work perfectly (and it doesn't).
Why?: Because I want to impress my advisor.
Why?: two reasons: a) to have a good working relationship since I will be at the same school for a while. (why?: because it's unpleasant to work with people you don't get along with; terminal value.)
b) to get better recommendations.
Why?: to have better career prospects.
Why?: to make more money.
Why?: a) to make my life more pleasant (terminal value) b) to donate to reducing existential risk (terminal value).
Why am I on Less Wrong meanwhile? My code is compiling.
Other questions: why am I studying math? Why am I staying in school?
Because it is interesting; because if I don't do something interesting I will be (a) less happy, (b) less effective.
It has been claimed on this site that the fundamental question of rationality is "What do you believe, and why do you believe it?".
A good question it is, but I claim there is another of equal importance. I ask you, Less Wrong...
What are you doing?
And why are you doing it?