4. Lily M. Abadal, University of South Florida, USA
5. Religions 2023, 14(2), 237.
關鍵詞
desire; modernity crisis; philosophical therapy; philosophical practice; philosophy as a way of life (PWL); Buddhism; Stoicism; Four Noble Truths; Noble Eightfold Path; the dichotomy of control
摘要
Desire is an important philosophical topic that deeply impacts everyday life. Philosophical practice is an emerging trend that uses philosophical theories and methods as a guide to living a eudaimonic life. In this paper, we define desire philosophically and compare different theories of desire in specific Eastern and Western traditions. Based on the Lacanian conceptual–terminological triad of “Need-Demand-Desire”, the research of desire is further divided into three dimensions, namely, the subject of desire, the object of desire, and the desire itself. The concept of desire is then analyzed from this triad and these three dimensions through different philosophical theories. This paper selects Buddhism as the representative of Eastern tradition, and Stoicism as the representative of the West, paying special attention to Stoicism’s “spiritual exercises” following Pierre Hadot. By exploring and comparing the Buddhist paths to liberation from suffering (i.e., the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path) and the two theoretical pillars in Stoicism (i.e., the notions of “living according to nature” and “the dichotomy of control”), practical guidance is then provided for understanding and regulating desire in times of crisis. This understanding and regulation of desire constitutes a philosophical therapy for today’s troubles, particularly those caused by excessive or irrational desires.
目次
Abstract 1 Keywords 1 1. Introduction 1 2. The Role of Philosophical Practice in the Therapy of Desire 2 2.1. Philosophical Practice as a New Profession in Society and a New Paradigm in Philosophical Research 2 2.2. The Desire Dilemma as a Crisis of Modernity 3 3. The Philosophical Conceptions and Constitutive Dimensions of Desire 4 3.1. Historical Development of the Philosophical Conceptions of Desire 4 3.2. Desire as the Very Dynamic of Human Life 6 3.3. The Three Facets of Desire 7 4. Two Philosophical Traditions on the Therapy of Desire 8 4.1. The Buddhist Path to Liberation from Suffering 8 4.1.1. Desire as the Cause of Suffering 9 4.1.2. The Cessation of Suffering: The Noble Eightfold Path and Its Contemporary Application in the Treatment of Addiction 10 4.2. Desire Management of Stoicism 12 4.2.1. Living according to Nature and the Dichotomy of Control 13 4.2.2. Three Disciplines of Desire/Aversion, Action, and Assent 14 4.2.3. Temperance as a Cardinal Virtue, and Its Role in Positive Psychology 15 5. Discussion 16 6. Conclusions 18 References 19
