Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ιστορίας της ΦιλοσοφίαςLibrary of the School of Philosophy
Author:
Azaizes Alexandros
Supervisors info:
Ιωάννης Πρελορέντζος, Καθηγητής, ΕΚΠΑ/Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας
Γεώργιος Αραμπατζής, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, ΕΚΠΑ/Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας
Ευάγγελος Πρωτοπαπαδάκης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, ΕΚΠΑ/Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας
Original Title:
Ο θεμελιώδης ρόλος της γενναιοφροσύνης στην ανθρωπολογία και στην ηθική φιλοσοφία του René Descartes.
Translated title:
Ο θεμελιώδης ρόλος της γενναιοφροσύνης στην ανθρωπολογία και στην ηθική φιλοσοφία του René Descartes.
Summary:
The aim of this dissertation is to examine the fundamental role of generosity (générosité) in the anthropology and moral philosophy of René Descartes (1596-1650), as this is highlighted in his last work, The Passions of the Soul (Les Passions de l'âme, 1649). This concerns an ethical problem that suggests the author’s deeper ethical orientation towards the constitution of a happy life, which is made possible only after man’s absolution from displeasing passions, or at least only after the mitigation of these passions.
My investigation begins with a general presentation of Descartes’ life and work and continues with a brief examination of modern philosophy and philosophising in terms of method, rather than just or primarily in terms of philosophical doctrine or of the findings of philosophical research. I then consider the important question of the relationship between soul and body, of Cartesian dualism and of the union and interaction between the two substances in the case of human beings, that is, of soul and body. I subsequently turn to Cartesian ethics. I initially present the rules of Descartes’ provisional morality and then examine Passions of the Soul. My primary focus while examining Descartes’ treatise is the will and how this is related to freedom and the passions, wonder and generosity.
I conclude that, in spite of the fact that Cartesian ethics is left incomplete, it cannot be evaluated negatively. Descartes’ ethical views clearly reflect the attempt of an unquiet mind to lead his philosophy towards a higher aim. In its core, Cartesian ethics remains groundbreaking and innovative today.
Main subject category:
Philosophy - Psychology
Keywords:
Rene Descartes, method, dualism, mind/body union-interaction, ethics, passions, will, wonder, virtue, generosity, happiness.
Number of references:
149
