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The object of this essay is to analyze the role played by unobservable or theoretical entities in the philosophical theories whose content is the mind-body problem. Substantialism, physicalism, philosophical behavioursm, and scepticism are the main sources of inspiration, and it is from them that I try to determine the pertinence or lack of pertinence of theoretical entities for the mind-body problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study determines the relationship between passion and reason in Thomas Hobbes. The English thinker is considered as a rationalist as well as an irrationalist. To explain this apparent paradox, the authors review his notions of passion and reason in the context of his materialist and physicalist philosophy, as well as the connection with his nominalism and sensualism. Passions are shown as the principle of movement in men, thought being at its service. The rational process is described as part of a new logic, one of calculus, or computation. The conclusion is that both topics are not clearly connected in Hobbes's work despite his effort to make power, the strongest passion, the one that can introduce order in thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]