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The Search for MindâBody Flourishing in Spinozaâs Eudaimonism
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This book explores the ethical tradition of eudaimonism, which considers happiness or flourishing as (a) partly objective or naturalistic, (b) partly subjective or affective, (c) structurally stable, and (d) the highest good. It examines the insights of Aristotle, Epicurus, the Stoics, and Spinoza concerning the respective roles of pleasure, virtue, and mind and body in living an eudaimonistically happy life. Spinoza offers an especially rich account of happiness, in opposition to the intellectualism of his fellow eudaimonists, through his argument for non-reductive mind-body identity, which entails that flourishing is equally intellectual and physical in nature.
Brandon Smith, Ph.D. (2024), is a Fonds de recherche du Québec postdoctoral fellow at the University of WisconsinâMadisonâs Institute for Research in the Humanities. He has published several articles on Spinozaâs moral philosophy and engagement with ancient eudaimonism, most notably "Spinozaâs Strong Eudaimonism" in the Journal of Modern Philosophy.
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
1 Introduction
â1 Ancient Greek Eudaimonism
â2 Ancient Philosophy in the Early Modern Period
â3 Spinoza and Ancient Philosophy
â4 Problems with Eudaimonism?
â5 Outline of the Book
2 Spinozaâs Strong Eudaimonism
â1 The Formal Features of Ancient Eudaimonism
â2 Spinozaâs Eudaimonistic Moral Philosophy
â3 Spinozaâs Strong Eudaimonism
â4 Conclusion
3 Pleasure
â1 Aristotle: the Human Joys of Moral and Wise Activities
â2 Epicurus: Joyful Homeostasis and Peace of Mind
â3 The Stoics: Mental Pleasure and Moral Indifferents
â4 Spinoza: Joyful Self-Affirmative Activity
â5 Conclusion
4 Virtue
â1 Aristotle: Moral and Scientific Excellence
â2 Epicurus: the Virtues of Joyful Healthy Being
â3 The Stoics: Intellectual Excellence as the Good
â4 Spinoza: Rational and Intuitive Self-Empowerment
â5 Conclusion
5 Mind and Body
â1 Aristotle: Hylomorphism and Intellectualism
â2 Epicurus: Atomistic Materialism and Intellectualism
â3 The Stoics: Materialistic Hylomorphism and Strong Intellectualism
â4 Spinoza: Non-reductive MindâBody Identity and Flourishing
â5 Conclusion
6 Conclusion
â1 Questions concerning Happiness
â2 Early Modern Thinkers and Eudaimonism
â3 Addressing the Problems with Eudaimonism
â4 A (Brief) Defense of Spinozistic Eudaimonism
Bibliography
Index
Abbreviations
1 Introduction
â1 Ancient Greek Eudaimonism
â2 Ancient Philosophy in the Early Modern Period
â3 Spinoza and Ancient Philosophy
â4 Problems with Eudaimonism?
â5 Outline of the Book
2 Spinozaâs Strong Eudaimonism
â1 The Formal Features of Ancient Eudaimonism
â2 Spinozaâs Eudaimonistic Moral Philosophy
â3 Spinozaâs Strong Eudaimonism
â4 Conclusion
3 Pleasure
â1 Aristotle: the Human Joys of Moral and Wise Activities
â2 Epicurus: Joyful Homeostasis and Peace of Mind
â3 The Stoics: Mental Pleasure and Moral Indifferents
â4 Spinoza: Joyful Self-Affirmative Activity
â5 Conclusion
4 Virtue
â1 Aristotle: Moral and Scientific Excellence
â2 Epicurus: the Virtues of Joyful Healthy Being
â3 The Stoics: Intellectual Excellence as the Good
â4 Spinoza: Rational and Intuitive Self-Empowerment
â5 Conclusion
5 Mind and Body
â1 Aristotle: Hylomorphism and Intellectualism
â2 Epicurus: Atomistic Materialism and Intellectualism
â3 The Stoics: Materialistic Hylomorphism and Strong Intellectualism
â4 Spinoza: Non-reductive MindâBody Identity and Flourishing
â5 Conclusion
6 Conclusion
â1 Questions concerning Happiness
â2 Early Modern Thinkers and Eudaimonism
â3 Addressing the Problems with Eudaimonism
â4 A (Brief) Defense of Spinozistic Eudaimonism
Bibliography
Index
This book will speak to students, specialists, and non-academics interested in history of philosophy, ancient Greek philosophy, 17th century philosophy, ethics, philosophy of happiness, and the meaning of life.