I'm curious if people have thoughts on why lots of folks think it's apt to treat desire as a propositional attitude.

To be more clear, I think I am somewhat familiar with some of the surrounding literature. So, I've read my Russell, Michael Smith, Ben-yami, Talbot Brewer, William Lycan, Davidson, Searle, Stalnaker, Velleman, Strawson.

And so, yeah, some people critique such things. But the prevailing thought seems to be to treat them as propositional. But, I guess I am just wondering if people more familiar with propositional attitudes in general have some thoughts here. Like, what's the advantage? Before Russell, no one seemed to think like this. But by now it's the standard way of thinking of them. Is there some "knock-down" argument I missed that inclines people to do so?