The ancient notion of self-preservation in the theories of Hobbes and Spinoza
Over the course of four sections this PhD examines the ways in which the Aristotelian, Stoic and Epicurean philosophers portray bodily activity. In particular, it argues that their claims regarding bodies' natural tendency to preserve themselves, and seek out the goods capable of promoting their well-being, came to influence Hobbes's and Spinoza's later accounts of natural, animal and social behaviour. The first section presents the ancient accounts of natural and animal bodily tendencies and explores the specific ways in which the Aristotelian, Stoic and Epicurean views on animal desires came to complement and diverge from each other. After investigating the perceived links between natural philosophy, psychology and ethics, the section proceeds to consider how the ancients used this 'unified' view of nature to guide their accounts of the soul's primary appetites and desires. Also examined is the extent to which civil society is portrayed as a means of securing the individual against others, and how Aristotelian philia, Theophrastian oikeioteÌs and Stoic oikeioÌsis came to stand in opposition to the fear-driven and compact-based accounts of social formation favoured by the Epicureans. The second section
Jacobs, Justin B.
Hobbes ; Spinoza ; Stoics ; Aristotle ; Grotius ; Epicureans ; Self-preservation ; Ethics ; Political thought ; State of nature ; Action ; Pleasure ; Oikeiosis ; Philia ; Love ; Self-love ; Other-love ; Seventeenth century ; Ancient philosophy ; Sixteenth
The ancient notion of self-preservation in the theories of Hobbes and Spinoza. Over the course of four sections this PhD examines the ways in which the Aristotelian, Stoic and Epicurean philosophers portray bodily activity. In particular, it argues that their claims regarding bodies' natural tendency to preserve themselves, and seek out the goods capable of promoting their well-being, came to influence Hobbes's and Spinoza's later accounts of natural, animal and social behaviour. The first section presents the ancient accounts of natural and animal bodily tendencies and explores the specific ways in which the Aristotelian, Stoic and Epicurean views on animal desires came to complement and diverge from each other. After investigating the perceived links between natural philosophy, psychology and ethics, the section proceeds to consider how the ancients used this 'unified' view of nature to guide their accounts of the soul's primary appetites and desires. Also examined is the extent to which civil society is portrayed as a means of securing the individual against others, and how Aristotelian philia, Theophrastian oikeioteÌs and Stoic oikeioÌsis came to stand in opposition to the fear-driven and compact-based accounts of social formation favoured by the Epicureans. The second section
ancient notion_self preservation theory hobbes spinoza course section phd examine_way aristotelian stoic philosopher portray bodily activity particular argue_claim regard body natural tendency preserve seek good capable promote well_being come influence hobbes spinoza later account natural animal social_behaviour first_section present ancient account natural animal bodily tendency explore specific_way aristotelian stoic view animal desire come complement diverge other investigate perceive link natural_philosophy psychology ethic section proceeds consider ancient use unified view nature guide account soul primary appetite desire also_examine extent civil_society portray mean secure individual others aristotelian stoic come stand opposition fear driven compact based_account social_formation favour second_section