A Comparative Study of Anger in Antiquity and Christian Thought
Among the ancient philosophers and the early Christians, anger was understood along a continuum. Aristotle and Philodemus believed that anger, under the right conditions, could be useful and even advantageous. Some such as Seneca and Clement, refused the possibility of any sort of anger among the mo...
| Published in: | Journal of ethics in Antiquity and Christianity |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
[2020]
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| In: |
Journal of ethics in Antiquity and Christianity
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Wrath
/ Philosopher
/ Classical antiquity
/ Church fathers
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| IxTheo Classification: | KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity NCB Personal ethics TB Antiquity VA Philosophy ZD Psychology |
| Further subjects: | B
Ethik und Emotionen
B Ethics B Wrath B Emotionen B Ethik in Antike und Christentum B Gefühle B Theological ethics |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | Among the ancient philosophers and the early Christians, anger was understood along a continuum. Aristotle and Philodemus believed that anger, under the right conditions, could be useful and even advantageous. Some such as Seneca and Clement, refused the possibility of any sort of anger among the most enlightened, whereas Evagrius and Cassian permit anger that is expressed toward oneself for any perceived vices. Gregory of Nyssa believed that with ascetic training, anger could be transformed into the virtue of courage. Similar to Plutarch, John Chrysostom believed that anger is an expression of social tyranny and must be curbed for virtue to thrive. Tertullian is distinct for understanding anger in the context of the faith and the patience that the advent of Christ made come alive. Left uncontrolled, anger is a spiritual deception that negates the new law of Christ. Plutarch, Lactantius, and Augustine, in contrast, admit a righteous form of anger under certain conditions. |
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| ISSN: | 2627-6062 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of ethics in Antiquity and Christianity
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.25784/jeac.v2i0.290 |