[6.7.3] Bernardino Telesio’s on Ethics and Knowlege

A. L. KomáromiLeave a comment

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

Telesio on ethics and knowledge
ClassDescriptionRelations
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
KnowledgeKnowledge
TheoreticalKnowledgeThis comes about through theoretical knowledge, specifically through natural philosophy and medicine (cf. DRN book VIII, ch. XXI) subkind of Knowledge
NaturalPhilosophyThis comes about through theoretical knowledge, specifically through natural philosophy and medicine (cf. DRN book VIII, ch. XXI)subkind of TheoreticalKnowledge
MedicineThis comes about through theoretical knowledge, specifically through natural philosophy and medicine (cf. DRN book VIII, ch. XXI)subkind of TheoreticalKnowledge
KnowledgeToControlKnowledge 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

[6.7.2] Bernardino Telesio’s Theory of Knowledge

A. L. KomáromiLeave a comment

According to Telesio, the “conservatio sui is the foundation from which all sensitive and cognitive functions arise. Defending an empirical approach in epistemology, Telesio tried to annul the traditional distinction between sense perception and reason, and he denied that there exists something like a purely mental sphere and a corresponding intellect which Aristotle in De anima III had called nous“

  • Sense perception and memory are historically depending on the brain
  • Sense perception and memory participate in understanding
  • Memory is not visual

The following OntoUML diagram shows Bernardino Telesio’s model of knowledge

Bernardino Telesio’s model of knowledge
ClassDescriptionRelations
Brain“Telesio combined the medical theory of spirit with a basically Stoic notion, that of the hegemonikon, according to which the spirit in the brain is responsible for all the states and operations traditionally ascribed to the tripartite soul: “the animal … is governed by one substance residing in the brain” (Quod animal universum ch. XXV; Var. lib. p. 254). Whereas in Quod animal universum he went on to explain the affects in terms of physiology, in De rerum natura he added a theory of sense perception and a theory of knowledge on physical grounds.”
Understanding“Understanding is a process which requires sense perception and memory. 
According to Telesio, our memory is not visual.
What we remember are movements which our spirit has experienced and given out when being in contact with external forces. If now the spirit undergoes a similar experience, for example the pain of getting burned, it will ascribe this perception to a similar or identical cause and call it ‘fire’ (DRN book VIII, ch. 1; vol. III, p. 160). The ability of making rational conclusions (ratiocinari) consists in comparing new expierences to old ones and in supplementing hidden or unknown aspects when refering them to former experiences”
SensePerceptionUnderstanding is a process which requires sense perceptionhistoricalDependence on Brain; participation Understanding
Memory“Understanding is a process which requires memory. According to Telesio, our memory is not visual.”historicalDependence on Brain; participation Understanding
NotVisualAccording to Telesio, our memory is not visual.characterizes Memory

Sources

  • Boenke, Michaela, “Bernardino Telesio“, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2018 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).

First published: 01/12/2022