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Philosophy Ethics & Moral Philosophy

Reason Over Passion

The Social Basis of Evaluation and Appraisal

by (author) Evan Simpson

Publisher
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Initial publish date
Jan 2006
Category
Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Social, Rationalism
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781554585892
    Publish Date
    Jul 1979
    List Price
    $32.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780889206120
    Publish Date
    Jan 2006
    List Price
    $32.95

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Description

"Reason is not passion's slave." Rather, the author argues, reason appraises the cultural appropriateness of passion, thus directing our attitudinal behaviour. He refutes those theories of value which correspond philosophically to societies described by Jean-Jacques Rousseau: societies of "honour without virtue, reason without wisdom, pleasure without happiness." His argument, which takes into account traditional philosophic positions, is divided into five parts: Attitudes, Evaluation, Characterization, Culture, Morality.

About the author

Evan Simpson is Associate Professor of Philosophy at McMaster University. He received the A.B. degree from Amherst College and the Ph.D. degree from Duke University. He has contributed articles on social philosophy, aesthetics, and human action to Ethics, Philosophy, the American Philosophical Quarterly, and other journals.

Evan Simpson's profile page