Dissertation committee:
Παναγιώτης Πανταζάκος, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Βάνα Νικολαΐδου- Κυριανίδου, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Μαρία Χωριανοπούλου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Γεώργιος Αραμπατζής, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Άννα Λάζου, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Ιωάννης Πρελορέντζος, Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Ευάγγελος Πρωτοπαπαδάκης, Τμήμα Φιλοσοφίας, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
This doctoral dissertation explores the philosophical work of Martha Nussbaum, which has significantly influenced the evolution and progress of contemporary Ethics and Political Philosophy. Nussbaum’s philosophical investigation begins with Ancient Greek Philosophy, where she interweaves the study of ancient Greek thought with the themes of modern philosophy. Her work emphasizes both the ethical impact and the practical significance of philosophical ideas. Her contributions hold particular importance in the fields of Applied Ethics and Political Philosophy in the truest sense of the term “applied.”
The dissertation is structured around four main thematic axes. The first axis delves into Nussbaum's epistemology, focusing on her therapeutic argumentation as presented in her book The Therapy of Desire. Here, she expands her philosophical analysis to Hellenistic Philosophy, particularly the Stoics, depicting a narrative of a young woman, Nicidion, who seeks answers on how one should live from Hellenistic philosophers. This serves as a framework for illustrating various approaches to the “art of living,” influenced by medical paradigms. Nussbaum emphasizes compassionate philosophy, advocating therapeutic arguments to address emotional pain, sadness, and suffering—emotions stemming from the fear of death and uncontrollable passions and desires. Her ultimate goal is to lead individuals to ataraxia (tranquility) and apatheia (freedom from passions). While she values Aristotle's acknowledgment of the role of emotions, she argues that the Epicurean and Stoic analysis provides deeper insight. She partially adopts the Stoic cognitivist perspective, which connects emotions to evaluative judgments, while maintaining that not all such judgments are necessarily false. Nussbaum’s neo-Stoic theory, as elaborated in Upheavals of Thought, asserts that emotions have a profound cognitive dimension, reflecting significant values central to life and action.
A vital aspect of her epistemology is the analysis of emotions, particularly fear and compassion, and their extension to universal values. She proposes a synthesis of three principles: cognitive evaluation, the flourishing of the acting subject, and the importance of external objects in shaping life’s goals. Compassion emerges as a foundation for ethical and political behavior, rooted in the awareness of human vulnerability.
The second thematic axis addresses the relationship between Philosophy and Literature, examining essays in which Nussbaum explores ethical principles through literary works. This study promotes the development of an “affective balance” necessary for effectively applying ethical theory to the realities of human experience, achieved by integrating moral perception, sensitivity, and the imaginative engagement nurtured by literature and philosophical reflection.
The third thematic axis examines the characteristics of a life conducive to human flourishing, as articulated in Nussbaum’s Creating Capabilities. She outlines a list of fundamental human capabilities, which serve as a concrete framework for defining the “good.” These capabilities, rather than actual functionings, should form the foundation of public policy. The central human capabilities include living a life of normal duration, physical and mental health, the exercise of the senses, imagination and thought, the expression of emotions, the establishment of relationships with people and things beyond oneself, the development of practical reason and critical thinking, social interaction, care for other species and the natural world, the enjoyment of recreation and play, and participation in political and material control over one’s environment.
The fourth thematic axis explores the role of Humanities in fostering Democracy, as discussed in Nussbaum’s Not For Profit. She critiques the global focus on economic growth, which marginalizes Humanities and weakens democratic principles. Nussbaum advocates for the preservation and enhancement of Humanities at all educational levels, emphasizing their significance for critical thinking, reflection, and personal engagement with aesthetic, political, ethical, and social realities.
The dissertation concludes with a critique of Nussbaum’s theories, addressing criticisms, potential shortcomings, and the philosopher’s own self-reflections. The methodology employed includes text-centered analysis of Nussbaum's texts and theories, comparative analysis to highlight similarities and differences among various approaches, and a sociological perspective examining issues through the lens of society, culture, and politics.
