Short description:

Spanning themes from superstition, enthusiasm, emotions, purity and the need for certainty, this landmark volume is essential reading for anyone researching the history of philosophy, ethics, and moral philosophy. Also valuable to those studying fanaticism in fields such as religion, the history of political thought, and sociology.

Long description:

Voltaire called fanaticism the "monster that pretends to be the child of religion". Philosophers, politicians, and cultural critics have decried fanaticism and attempted to define the distinctive qualities of the fanatic, whom Winston Churchill described as "someone who can?t change his mind and won?t change the subject". Yet despite fanaticism?s role in the long history of social discord, human conflict, and political violence, it remains a relatively neglected topic in the history of philosophy.

In this outstanding inquiry into the philosophical history of fanaticism, a team of international contributors examine the topic from antiquity to the present day. Organized into four sections, topics covered include:

• Fanaticism in ancient Greek, Indian, and Chinese philosophy;


• Fanaticism and superstition from Hobbes to Hume, including chapters on Locke and Montesquieu, Shaftesbury, and Hutcheson;


• Kant, Germaine de Stael, Hegel, Nietzsche, William James, and Jorge Portilla on fanaticism;


• Fanaticism and terrorism; and extremism and gender, including the philosophy and morality of the "manosphere";


• Closed-mindedness and political and epistemological fanaticism.

Spanning themes from superstition, enthusiasm, and misanthropy to the emotions, purity, and the need for certainty, Fanaticism and the History of Philosophy is a landmark volume for anyone researching and teaching the history of philosophy, particularly ethics and moral philosophy. It is also a valuable resource for those studying fanaticism in related fields such as religion, the history of political thought, sociology, and the history of ideas.

Table of Contents:

1. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Fanaticism Paul Katsafanas  Part 1: Fanaticism in Antiquity  2. Fanaticism and Aristotelian Excessive Fear of the Divine Mor Segev  3. Fanaticism in Ancient Indian Philosophy Nathan McGovern  4. Fanaticism in Classical Chinese Philosophy Eirik Harris  Part 2: Fanaticism in the Early Modern Period  5. Superstition, Enthusiasm, and Radical Enlightenment from Hobbes to Hume Justin Steinberg  6. Locke on Fanaticism Douglas Casson  7. Montesquieu?s Restrained Approach to Fanaticism Vickie Sullivan  8. Shaftesbury and Hutcheson: Enthusiasm and Humor Rachel Zuckert  Part 3: Fanaticism in the Late Modern Period  9. Kant on Enthusiasm, Reason, and Misanthropy Krista Thomason  10. Germaine de Staël on Passions, Politics, and Fanaticism Kristin Gjesdal  11. Fanatical Abstraction: Hegel on the Hazards of Pure Thinking Dean Moyar  12. The Need for Certainty Bernard Reginster  13. Nietzsche and William James on Scientism as Fanaticism Rachel Cristy  14. "Apretados": Jorge Portilla on Value Fanaticism Carlos Sanchez  Part 4: Contemporary Explorations of Fanaticism  15. "Grand, Ungodly, God-Like Man" On the Symptomatology of Fanaticism Nicolas de Warren  16. Fanaticism in the Manosphere Mark Alfano and Paul-Mikhail Catapang Podosky  17. Fanaticism and Terrorism Quassim Cassam  18. Extremist Women and Fanaticism Tracy Llanera  19. Fanaticism and Closed-Mindedness Heather Battaly  20. Political Fanaticism and Epistemic Shamelessness Sophie Grace Chappell.  Index