The therapy of desire : theory and practice in Hellenistic ethics : with a new introduction by the author

The Epicureans, Skeptics, and Stoics practiced philosophy not as a detached intellectual discipline, but as a worldly art of grappling with issues of daily and urgent human significance: the fear of death, love and sexuality, anger and aggression. Like medicine, philosophy to them was a rigorous science aimed both at understanding and at producing the flourishing of human life. In this engaging book, Martha Nussbaum examines texts of philosophers committed to a therapeutic paradigm--including Epicurus, Lucretius, Sextus Empiricus, Chrysippus, and Seneca--and recovers a valuable source for our moral and political thought today. This edition features a new introduction by Nussbaum, in which she revisits the themes of this now classic work. The Epicureans, Skeptics, And Stoics Practiced Philosophy Not As A Detached Intellectual Discipline, But As A Worldly Art Of Grappling With Issues Of Daily And Urgent Human Significance: The Fear Of Death, Love And Sexuality, Anger And Aggression. Like Medicine, Philosophy To Them Was A Rigorous Science Aimed Both At Understanding And At Producing The Flourishing Of Human Life. In This Engagingly Written Book, Martha Nussbaum Maintains That These Hellenistic Schools Have Been Unjustly Neglected In Recent Philosophic Accounts Of What The Classical Tradition Has To Offer. By Examining Texts Of Philosophers Committed To A Therapeutic Paradigm - Including Epicurus, Lucretius, Sextus Empiricus, Chrysippus, And Seneca - She Recovers A Valuable Source For Current Moral And Political Thought And Encourages Us To Reconsider Philosophical Argument As A Technique Through Which To Improve Lives. In Describing The Contributions Of Hellenistic Ethics, Nussbaum Focuses On Each Thinker's Treatment Of The Question Of Emotion. All Argued That Many Harmful Emotions Are Based On False Beliefs That Are Socially Taught, And That Good Philosophical Argument Can Transform Emotions, And, With Them, Both Private And Public Life. Written For General Readers And Specialists, This Book Addresses Compelling Issues Ranging From The Psychology Of Human Passion Through Rhetoric To The Role Of Philosophy In Public And Private Life. Therapeutic Arguments -- Medical Dialectic: Aristotle On Theory And Practice -- Aristotle On Emotions And Ethical Health -- Epicurean Surgery: Argument And Empty Desire -- Beyond Obsession And Disgust: Lucretius On The Therapy Of Love -- Mortal Immortals: Lucretius On Death And The Voice Of Nature -- By Words, Not Arms: Lucretius On Anger And Aggression -- Stoic Tonics: Philosophy And The Self-government Of The Soul -- Skeptic Purgatives: Disturbance And The Life Without Belief -- The Stoics On The Extirpation Of The Passions -- Seneca On Anger In Public Life -- Serpents In The Soul: A Reading Of Seneca's Medea -- The Therapy Of Desire. Martha C. Nussbaum. Includes Bibliographic References (p. 517-530) And Indexes. "The Epicureans, Skeptics, and Stoics practiced philosophy not as a detached intellectual discipline, but as a worldly art of grappling with issues of daily and urgent human significance: the fear of death, love and sexuality, anger and aggression. Like medicine, philosophy to them was a rigorous science aimed both at understanding and at producing the flourishing of human life. In this engaging book, Martha Nussbaum examines texts of philosophers committed to a therapeutic paradigm - including Epicurus, Lucretius, Sextus Empiricus, Chrysippus, and Seneca - and recovers a valuable source for our moral and political thought of today. The Epicureans, Skeptics, and Stoics practiced philosophy not as a detached intellectual discipline, but as a worldly art of grappling with issues of daily and urgent human significance: the fear of death, love and sexuality, anger and aggression. Like medicine, philosophy to them was a rigorous science aimed both at understanding and at producing the flourishing of human life. In this engaging book, Martha Nussbaum examines texts of philosophers committed to a therapeutic paradigm--including Epicurus, Lucretius, Sextus Empiricus, Chrysippus, and Seneca--and recovers a valuable source for our moral and political thought of today."--Google Books Introduction To Th 2009 Ed. -- Therapeutic Arguments -- Medical Dialectic : Aristotle On Theory And Practice -- Aristotle On Emotions And Ethical Health -- Epicurean Surgery : Argument And Empty Desire -- Beyond Obsession And Disgust : Lucretius And The Therapy Of Love -- Mortal Immortals : Lucretius On Death And The Voice Of Nature -- By Words, Not Arms : Lucretius On Anger And Aggression -- Skeptic Purgatives : Purgatives And The Life Without Belief -- Stoic Tonics : Philosophy And The Self-government Of The Soul -- The Stoics On The Extirpation Of The Passions -- Seneca On Anger In Public Life -- Serpents In The Soul : A Reading Of Seneca's Medea -- The Therapy Of Desire. Martha C. Nussbaum. Previous Ed.: 1994. Partly Based On The Martin Classical Lectures For 1986. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 517-530) And Indexes. The Epicureans, Skeptics, and Stoics practiced philosophy not as a detached intellectual discipline but as a worldly art involving grappling with issues of daily and urgent human significance. In this classic work, Martha Nussbaum maintains that these Hellenistic schools have been unjustly neglected in recent philosophic accounts of what the classical "tradition" has to offer. By examining texts of philosophers such as Epicurus, Lucretius, and Seneca, she recovers a valuable source for current moral and political thought and encourages us to reconsider philosophical argument as a technique through which to improve lives. Written for general readers and specialists, The Therapy of Desire addresses compelling issues ranging from the psychology of human passion through rhetoric to the role of philosophy in public and private life. The Epicureans, Skeptics, and Stoics practiced philosophy not as a detached intellectual discipline but as a worldly art of grappling with issues of daily and urgent human significance. In this classic work, Martha Nussbaum maintains that these Hellenistic schools have been unjustly neglected in recent philosophic accounts of what the classical "tradition" has to offer. By examining texts of philosophers such as Epicurus, Lucretius, and Seneca, she recovers a valuable source for current moral and political thought and encourages us to reconsider philosophical argument as a technique through which to improve lives. Written for general readers and specialists, The Therapy of Desire addresses compelling issues ranging from the psychology of human passion through rhetoric to the role of philosophy in public and private life. Content: Introduction to the 2009 Edition -- Introduction -- Therapeutic Arguments -- Medical Dialectic: Aristotle on Theory and Practice -- Aristotle on Emotions and Ethical Health -- Epicurean Surgery: Argument and Empty Desire -- Beyond Obsession and Disgust: Lucretius on the Therapy of Love -- Mortal Immortals: Lucretius on Death and the Voice of Nature -- "By Words, Not Arms": Lucretius on Anger and Aggression -- Skeptic Purgatives: Disturbance and the Life without Belief -- Stoic Tonics: Philosophy and the Self-Government of the Soul -- The Stoics on the Extirpation of the Passions -- Seneca on Anger in Public Life -- Serpents in the Soul: A Reading of Seneca's Medea -- The Therapy of Desire.