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The Passions of the Soul
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The Passions of the Soul

work by Descartes
Also known as: “Traité des passions de l’âme”
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Quick Summary

René Descartes's The Passions of the Soul (1649) explores the connection between the mind and body, proposing that they are distinct substances that interact. Descartes believed the human body operates as a machine, with emotions and passions arising from the pineal gland's interaction with external stimuli.1

He argued that while the mind cannot directly control bodily reactions, it can influence them by altering mental attitudes. This work also touches on his moral philosophy, emphasizing free will and the importance of acting virtuously for the good of others. Descartes's ideas on mind-body dualism and the "way of ideas" significantly influenced modern philosophy.123

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9 Britannica Sources
  1. Cartesianism - Mind, body , and humanity
  2. René Descartes - Physics , physiology , and morals
  3. Aristotle - Philosophy of mind of Aristotle
  4. René Descartes
  5. metaphysics - Cartesianism
  6. Cartesianism - The way of ideas and the self
  7. philosophical anthropology - Aristotle
  8. philosophical anthropology - Plato
  9. Meditations on First Philosophy

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