Descartes and the Passionate Mind

Deborah J. Brown is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics, University of Queensland.

• Acknowledgements; Note on references; Introduction; 1. Volo ergo sum: the unity and significance of Les Passions de l'âme; 2. Perturbations or sweet pleasures? Descartes' place in two traditions regarding the passions; 3. The natural integration of reason and passion; 4. Representing and referring; 5. Action and passion: metaphysical integrationism; 6. Wonder and love: extending the boundaries of the Cartesian knower and the Cartesian self; 7. Several strange passages on desire and fortune; 8. Generosity breeds content: self-mastery through self-esteem; Bibliography; Index.

"Brown's book is historically and philosophically rich and provocative. Her discussion in chapters 3-5 deftly illustrates the way in which attention to the Passions helps to shed a new light on long-standing questions in the interpretation of Descartes, and she also elaborates a challenging approach to understanding the Passions as a whole. Descartes scholars, philosophers interested in early modern conceptions of the passions, and philosophers interested in the history of theories of the passions will all profit from engaging with Brown's book." - Sean Greenberg, University of California, Irvine