Richard Sorabji presents a study of ancient Greek views of the emotions and their influence on subsequent theories and attitudes, pagan and Christian. The debate also concerns the different roles of philosophy, music and the arts in calming stress.

'another brilliant, astounding production, exciting in the breadth of its coverage, terrifying in the scope of its learning . . . rich, provocative, varied, and entertaining'

Klappentext

Richard Sorabji presents a ground-breaking study of ancient Greek views of the emotions and their influence on subsequent theories and attitudes, Pagan and Christian. While the central focus of the book is the Stoics, Sorabji draws on a vast range of texts to give a rich historical survey of how Western thinking about this central aspect of human nature developed.

Inhalt

• Introduction

• Emotions as Judgements Versus Irrational Forces

• 2: The Emotions as Value Judgements in Chrysippus

• 3: Seneca's Defence: Third Movements as Harmonizing Chrysippus and Zeno

• 4: Seneca's Defence: First Movements as Answering Posidonius

• 5: The Arts: First Movements and Controversies on Drama and Music. Aristotle, Philodemus, and the Stoics

• 6: Posidonius on the Irrational Forces in Emotion: Galen's Report

• 7: Posidonius: Judgements Insufficient for Emotion. Exhaustion and Lack of Imagination

• 8: Posidonius: Judgements Not Necessary for Emotion. Disowned Judgements, Animals, and Music

• 9: Aspasius and Other Objections to Chrysippus

• 10: What is Missing from the Judgemental Analysis? Brain Research and Limitations on Stoic Cognitive Therapy

• Value of the Emotions, Cognitive Therapy, and the Role of Philosophy

• 12: Stoic Indifference: A Barrier to Therapy?

• 13: The Case for and against Eradication of Emotion

• 14: The Traditions of Moderation and Eradication

• 15: How the Ancient Exercises Work

• 16: Exercises Concerned with Time and the Self

• 17: Physiology and the Non-Cognitive: Galen's Alternative Approach to Emotion

• 18: Sex, Love, and Marriage in Pagan Philosophy and the Use of Catharsis

• 19: Catharsis and the Classification of Therapies

• Emotional Conflict and Structure of the Mind

• 21: The Concept of Will

• From Stoic Agitations to Christian Temptations

• 23: From First Movements to the Seven Cardinal Sins: Evagrius

• 24: First Movements in Augustine: Adaptation and Misunderstanding

• 25: Christians on Moderation versus Eradication

• 26: Augustine on Lust and the Will

• Bibliography of Secondary Sources Mentioned

• Index of Ancient Thinkers

• Index Locorum

• Subject and Name Index