NA

Damasio is an articulate, elegant writer and provides a lucid neurological explanation of the role of emotions and feelings. While his interest and exposition of these processes does overlap with Spinoza I didn't get as much out of the philosophy nor had much interest in the biography of Spinoza in chapter 6.

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Damasio-Spinoza-avait-raison--Joie-et-tristesse-l...
> Paperblog : https://www.paperblog.fr/3455544/a-damasio-spinoza-avait-raison-joie-et-tristess...
> CAIRN : https://www.cairn.info/revue-francaise-de-psychosomatique-2004-1-page-165.htm
> Voir un extrait : https://books.google.fr/books?id=lOzUy6Zt1ZYC&hl=fr&printsec=frontcover&...

> Le point de vue intéressant d'un célèbre neurologue américain sur la pensée de Spinoza. Lecture parfois aride.
—Frédéric Lenoir

This is a well written book and at times almost lyrical (especially the first chapters on Spinoza). Damasio not only explains well the neuroscience of the brain but also the philosophy of Spinoza. The part about neuroscience comes from Damasio's own work and it has to do with how feelings and emotions, that underlie feelings, regulate our bodies to achieve survival and well-being. He also explains how Spinoza had said as much in the Ethics and how he stood alone against Descartes' mind-body duality.

The book was written in 2003. As such, I am not sure if there have been any further developments on this topic that either enhance or diminish Damasio's theory of feelings. But the part about Spinoza is worth reading given the fact that Spinoza is a very well-know, but little-read, philosopher, mainly because of his difficult-to-read writing style. ( )

Supposedly about the biological basis of feelings & emotions - but lost me. Dreadful.
Read Aug 2006 ( )