How To Eat a Peach: Malebranche on the Function of the Passions

Mind (forthcoming)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Nicolas Malebranche (1638-1715) holds that the senses, imagination, and passions serve the body’s needs. In this paper, I explain how the passions keep us alive by situating them in Malebranche’s account of ordinary bodily action. Malebranche holds a consent-based view of action. An agent translates her inclinations or motives into action only when she consents to them. The passions contribute to the preservation of life by helping the agent close the gap between inclination and action. The passions, according to Malebranche, are complex psychophysiological phenomena whose various elements—perceptions, shifts of attention, evaluations, bodily preparation, feelings, etc.—work together to elicit the agent’s consent.

Author's Profile

Colin Chamberlain
University College London

Analytics

Added to PP
2025-02-04

Downloads
91 (#99,193)

6 months
91 (#63,856)

Historical graph of downloads since first upload
This graph includes both downloads from PhilArchive and clicks on external links on PhilPapers.
How can I increase my downloads?