Single Idea 4015

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / c. Role of emotions]

Full Idea

Descartes sees passions not as opinions, but as functional devices that the Creator has designed for us to help preserve the body-soul substantial union.

Gist of Idea

For Descartes passions are God-given preservers of the mind-body union

Source

report of René Descartes (The Passions of the Soul [1649]) by Charles Taylor - Sources of the Self §8

Book Reference

Taylor,Charles: 'Sources of the Self' [CUP 1992], p.150


A Reaction

I wonder what Descartes would have made of the theory of evolution?