The Brute Within: Appetitive Desire in Plato and Aristotle (Oxford Philosophical Monographs)

Hendrik Lorenz presents a comprehensive study of Plato's and Aristotle's conceptions of non-rational desire. They see this as something that humans share with animals, and which aims primarily at the pleasures of food, drink, and sex. Lorenz explores the cognitive resources that both philosophers make available for the explanation of such desires, and what they take rationality to add to the motivational structure of human beings. In doing so, he finds conceptions of the mind that are coherent and deeply integrated with both philosophers' views about such topics as the relation between body and soul, or the nature of the virtues. "Hendrik Lorenz presents a comprehensive study of Plato's and Aristotle's conception of appetitive desire. They see this as a form of non-rational motivation that humans share with other animals, and which aims primarily at the pleasures of food, drink, and sex. Lorenz explores the cognitive resources that both philosophers make available for the explanation of non-rational desires, and pinpoints what they take rationality to add to the motivational structure of human beings. In doing so, he exposes a remarkable degree of continuity between Plato's and Aristotle's thought in this area. He also sheds fresh light, not only on both philosophers' theories of motivation, but also on how they conceive of the mind, both in itself and in relation to the body." Hendrik Lorenz presents a comprehensive study of Plato's and Aristotle's conceptions of non-rational desire. They see this as something that humans share with animals, and which aims primarily at the pleasures of food, drink, and sex. Lorenz explores the cognitive resources that both philosophers make available for the explanation of such desires, and what they take rationality to add to the motivational structure of human beings. In doing so, he exposes a remarkable degree of continuity between Plato's and Aristotle's thought in this area. He also sheds fresh light, not only on both philosophers'theories of motivation, but also on how they conceive of the mind, both in itself and in relation to the body. Contents Introduction PART ONE: APPETITE AND REASON IN PLATO’S REPUBLIC Introduction 1. Parts of the Soul 2. The Argument for Tripartition 3. Partition 4. The Simple Picture PART TWO: BELIEF AND APPEARANCE IN PLATO Introduction 5. Imitation and the Soul 6. Belief and Reason 7. Below Belief and Reason PART THREE: PHANTASIA AND NON-RATIONAL DESIRE IN ARISTOTLE Introduction 8. Preliminaries 9. Phantasia, Desire, and Locomotion 10. Desire without phantasia 11. The Workings of phantasia 12. Phantasia and Practical Thought 13. Reason and Non-rational Desire Conclusion Bibliography General Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Index Locorum ARISTOTLE PLATO