Bernardino Telesio (1509–1588) “The ethics exposed in the 9th book of De rerum natura is strictly naturalist. The only objective which Telesio ascribes to the spirit is self-preservation and self-improvement …”. The importance of knowledge comes from the self-preservation and- improvement.
- Self-preservation and self-improvement characterize spirit.
- Knowledge is a component of spirit.
- Natural philosophy and medicine are theoretical knowledge.
- Knowledge to control is subkind of knowledge and terminates emotion and desire.
- Emotion and desire can be provoked and suppressed.
The following OntoUML diagram shows Bernardino Telesio on ethics
| Class | Description | Relations |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit | “The ethics exposed in the 9th book of De rerum natura is strictly naturalist. The only objective which Telesio ascribes to the spirit is self-preservation and self-improvement, the former lying in its ability to react suitably to influences from the external world, the latter in its capability of finding means to improve its state of being” | componentOf Knowledge |
| Self-preservation | “Telesio ascribes to the spirit […] self-preservation […], lying in its ability to react suitably to influences from the external world” | characterizes Spirit |
| Self-improvement | “Telesio ascribes to the spirit […] self-improvement […], lying […] in its capability of finding means to improve its state of being“ | characterizes Spirit |
| Knowledge | Knowledge | |
| TheoreticalKnowledge | This comes about through theoretical knowledge, specifically through natural philosophy and medicine (cf. DRN book VIII, ch. XXI) | subkind of Knowledge |
| NaturalPhilosophy | This comes about through theoretical knowledge, specifically through natural philosophy and medicine (cf. DRN book VIII, ch. XXI) | subkind of TheoreticalKnowledge |
| Medicine | This comes about through theoretical knowledge, specifically through natural philosophy and medicine (cf. DRN book VIII, ch. XXI) | subkind of TheoreticalKnowledge |
| KnowledgeToControl | Knowledge to control “This comes about through […] learning to control one’s own emotions and desires. “ This is a subkind of knowledge. | subkind of Knowledge |
| Emotion&Desire | “This comes about through […] learning to control one’s own emotions and desires. “ | terminates Emotion&Desire |
| Provoke; Suppress | “According to Telesio, we can voluntarily provoke and suppress affections and their related actions (DRN book IX, ch. I; vol. III, p. 332f.); what is more, we are able to master the degree to which we desire and are affected (DRN book IX, ch. II; vol. III, p. 334). The principle of moral virtue is said to be a knowledge of what is helpful and what is damaging for survival and well-being in human society. All virtues and vices are reduced to self-conservation.” | participates in Emotion&Desire |
Sources
- Boenke, Michaela, “Bernardino Telesio“, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2018 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
First published: 08/12/2022
Philosophy Models 