Most Cartesian scholars focus on the metaphysical and epistemological aspects of the philosopher's texts. In this long awaited volume, John Marshall invites us to reconsider Rene Descartes as an ethicist. Through an unconventional study of his statements about morality found in such writings as the Discourse on the Method, the Passions of the Soul, and various correspondence, Marshall shows how Descartes confirmed and elaborated his earlier "provisional morality" in his later works.

Marshall demonstrates that Descartes left a fully developed conception of moral virtue and happiness along with other accounts of values and norms, and he expands on these accounts to describe Cartesian moral theory as a whole. He discusses the morale par provision of the Discourse, treats Descartes's "final morality" by focusing on his account of virtue, and sets out a Cartesian theory of value and system of duties. Throughout the text he uses numerous quotations to illustrate Descartes's comments on ethics, and he considers views of other commentators such as Gueroult.

About the Author

John Marshall is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Virginia.

Reviews

Descartes's Moral Theory is clearly written and well structured. Marshall makes his arguments easy to follow and uses illustrative examples. He considers and amply cites the relevant Cartesian texts, and is so fair to the opposing point of view in cases of textual ambiguity that one can mount strong counterarguments simply on the basis of evidence Marshall himself provides in his notes.

-- Sarah Donahue * The Review of Metaphysics *

Rene Descartes is an important but neglected moral philosopher. John Marshall's book is designed 'to introduce Descartes's moral thought to an anglophone audience' and he succeeds.

* Ethics *



Book Information
ISBN 9780801435676
Author John Marshall
Format Hardback
Page Count 192
Imprint Cornell University Press
Publisher Cornell University Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 21mm