Elisabeth of the Palatinate
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| + | “I admit that it would be easier for me to concede [[matter]] and extension to the soul than to concede the capacity to move a body and to be moved by it to an immaterial thing” --[[Elisabeth of the Palatinate]], criticizing [[Dualism (philosophy of mind)|Descartes' dualism]]. | ||
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| - | In the [[treatise]] '''Passions of the Soul''' (''Les passions de l'âme''), the last of [[Descartes]]' published work, completed in [[1649]] and dedicated to [[Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia]], the author contributes to a long tradition of theorizing "[[the passions]]." The passions were experiences often equated with or labeled as precursors to what are commonly called "emotions" in the [[Modern era|Modern]] period. However, significant differences exist between what a passion putatively was and what an emotion allegedly is. For example, the passions, as suggested by the [[etymology]] of the word, were passive in nature; that is to say the experience of a passion was always caused by an object external to the subject. An emotion, as it is commonly rendered in both contemporary [[psychological]] discourse as well as [[popular culture]], is usually explained as an event internal to, or taking place within, a subject. Therefore, an emotion is ''produced'' by the subject while a passion is ''suffered'' by the subject. | ||
| - | In the ''Passions of the Soul'', Descartes defines these phenomena as follows: "[P]erceptions or sensations or excitations of the soul which are referred to it in particular and which are caused, maintained, and strengthened by some movement of the spirits." The "spirits" mentioned here are the "animal spirits" central to Descartes's account of [[physiology]]. They function similarly to how the medical establishment now understands the [[nervous system]]. Descartes explains that the animal spirits are produced by the blood and are responsible for stimulating the body's movement. By affecting the muscles, for example, the animal spirits "move the body in all the different ways in which it can be moved." | + | '''Elisabeth of the Palatinate''' (26 December 1618 – 11 February 1680), also known as '''Elisabeth of Bohemia''', was the eldest daughter of [[Frederick V, Elector Palatine|Frederick V]], who was briefly elected [[King of Bohemia]], and [[Elizabeth of Bohemia|Elizabeth Stuart]]. She ruled the [[Herford Abbey]] as Princess-Abbess '''Elizabeth III'''. Elizabeth is well known for having established a [[philosophy|philosophical]] correspondence with [[René Descartes]] that lasted for seven years until his death in 1650. |
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| - | Notable precursors to Descartes that articulated their own theories of the passions include [[Augustine of Hippo|St. Augustine]] and [[St. Thomas Aquinas]]. | ||
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| - | ==See also== | ||
| - | * [[Balloonist theory]] | ||
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“I admit that it would be easier for me to concede matter and extension to the soul than to concede the capacity to move a body and to be moved by it to an immaterial thing” --Elisabeth of the Palatinate, criticizing Descartes' dualism. |
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Elisabeth of the Palatinate (26 December 1618 – 11 February 1680), also known as Elisabeth of Bohemia, was the eldest daughter of Frederick V, who was briefly elected King of Bohemia, and Elizabeth Stuart. She ruled the Herford Abbey as Princess-Abbess Elizabeth III. Elizabeth is well known for having established a philosophical correspondence with René Descartes that lasted for seven years until his death in 1650.
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