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Academy Resources Glossary of Philosophical Terms Timeline of Philosophy A Timeline of American Philosophy Diagram: Development of Philosophic Thought Diagram: Divisions of Philosophy The Philosophy Resource Center The Religion Resource Center Books about Philosophy in The Radical Academy Bookstore Books about Religion in The Radical Academy Bookstore Click Here for New & Used College Textbooks at Discount Prices Click Here for College Education Information & Study Resources Shop Amazon Stores in the Radical Academy Bookstore Magazine Outlet Music Store Classical Music Store Video Store DVD Store Computer Store Camera & Photo Store Computer/Video Games Software Store Musical Instruments Outlet Store Cellular Phones Toys & Games Tools & Hardware Automotive Store Outdoor Living Consumer Electronics Home & Garden Kitchen & Housewares Baby Superstore Apparel & Accessories Gourmet Food Grocery Store Sporting Goods Jewelry & Watches Health & Personal Care Beauty Store		The Philosopher's View of Passion by Arnold Geulincx   After philosophers noticed that the activities of the mob are directed by passion, they resolved to insist on a contrary conduct of life and tried to act against their own passions. But, in doing so, they became not wiser than the mob, though, in a different, maybe more brilliant, manner, insane. Thus they came to the same state of mind as the mob, although sometimes by a sideways or roundabout route. Some of these philosophers endeavored to extinguish all of their passions, as did the Cynics and Stoics. That is evidently madness, for we cannot extinguish passion without destroying our whole body. If there really is something that is permanently certain, it is the certainty that passion cannot be eliminated because it is a constituent of what is good in human conditions. Passions are not bad. Some of them are morally neutral, others are good by nature, and we are obliged to tolerate them. Just a little wiser are those philosophers who are not prepared to extinguish all passions -- what would be insane, impossible, inadmissible -- but to omit or to suspend all actions which they consider caused by passion. Plato belongs to this group. In this regard we can discern four strata of philosophers -- namely, first, Cynics and Stoics; second, Platonists; and finally two schools of mortification. They all are acting against reason. They, therefore, are themselves directed by passion. For, whenever we act, we act deliberately, and our impulse is either reason or any kind of passion.   Excerpted from Ethica, by Arnold Geulincx   Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Book... Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Magazine... Academy Showcase Specials   Introduction & Directory
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