Evagrius of Pontus on Λύπη : Distress and cognition between philosophy, medicine, and monasticism
Book chapter
Zecher, Jonathan. (2023). Evagrius of Pontus on Λύπη : Distress and cognition between philosophy, medicine, and monasticism. In In Ayres, Lewis, Champion, Michael W. and Crawford, Matthew R. (Ed.). The Intellectual World of Late Antique Christianity : Reshaping Classical Traditions pp. 530 - 547 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108883559.030
Authors | Zecher, Jonathan |
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Editors | Ayres, Lewis, Champion, Michael W. and Crawford, Matthew R. |
Abstract | This chapter explores Evagrius of Pontus’ contribution to a uniquely Christian construction of the human being as knowing subject and known object. Evagrius includes distress (λύπη) among the ‘Eight Evil Thoughts’. Evagrius, following Paul, distinguishes between ‘worldly’ or ‘demonic’ λύπη and godly λύπη. This chapter probes this distinction in context of ancient passion-lists, which create affective lexica and cultural scripts for the articulation and management of emotions. In them λύπη is a deleterious emotion and an impediment to proper cognition. Evagrius emulates these lists but modifies their logic: he replaces classical with biblical exemplars, and he inserts the Pauline distinction between godly and worldly λύπη. Evagrius thus differentiates between positive and negative emotion on the basis of cause or intentional object. This results in λύπη becoming a valid dimension of human knowing, while creating a new need for a hermeneutic of λύπη and organisation of human emotion and knowledge. |
Keywords | history of emotion; distress; Evagrius of Pontus; passions; asceticism |
Page range | 530 - 547 |
Year | 01 Jan 2023 |
Book title | The Intellectual World of Late Antique Christianity : Reshaping Classical Traditions |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Place of publication | United Kingdom |
ISBN | 9781108883559 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108883559.030 |
Web address (URL) | https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/intellectual-world-of-late-antique-christianity/evagrius-of-pontus-on-distress-and-cognition-between-philosophy-medicine-and-monasticism/AEA399FAB78A007A8CACD97CC3E638BB |
Open access | Published as non-open access |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 05 Oct 2023 |
2023 | |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 26 Jun 2024 |
Additional information | © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/90q19/evagrius-of-pontus-on-distress-and-cognition-between-philosophy-medicine-and-monasticism
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