Persons and Passions

The essays in this collection, written in honor of noted philosopher Annette Baier, reflect the influence of her work in the area of philosophical naturalism. Naturalism has ethical and epistemological implications that often run contrary to the rationalist tendencies of academic philosophy. These essays collectively examine the four main themes of Baier’s naturalism: a general resistance to thinking of persons atomistically, the importance of trust between persons and the mutual dependence of persons, the positive role of emotions in human judgment, and the modes of self-correction available to persons so conceived. Many of the contributors to this volume take a historical approach, dealing particularly with Descartes and Hume. Others develop Baier’s naturalistic themes for feminist philosophical purposes. All of these essays offer original, and sometimes polemical, insights into the history of philosophy. This collection will be welcomed by philosophers, ethicists, feminists, and political theorists.