Corazza, Michael, authorRomagni, Domenica, advisorHarris, Eirik, committee memberMargolf, Diane, committee member2025-09-012025-09-012025https://hdl.handle.net/10217/241831https://doi.org/10.25675/3.02151For this project, I aim to identify a shared methodological structure in Spinoza's and Aristotle's accounts of human flourishing—particularly as developed in the Ethics and the Nicomachean Ethics. This structure consists of a progression that begins with the definition of a thing, proceeds to its natural activity, and culminates in an account of that activity's highest expression. In Chapter 1, I review the philosophical positions of Spinoza and Aristotle that are relevant to this analysis. In Chapter 2, I consider Spinoza's theories of essence, striving, and blessedness alongside Aristotle's theories of form, function and sophia, concluding that the similarities between these principles are limited. Finally, in Chapter 3, I analyze how the principles discussed in Chapter 2 ground separate accounts of the good life. I argue that despite their differences, these principles function in a parallel way methodologically, with each successive idea explanatorily reliant on its predecessor.born digitalmasters thesesengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.flourishingphilosophical methodologyAristotleSpinozahistory of philosophyText