Aquinas On Sorrow Ancient Philosophy

Three Aspects of a Passion A passion is an individual’s reaction to an object acting upon him – The object reacting upon the individual either good or bad – The effect on the subject Increases or decreases power of being and acting – The relation of subject and object either pursuit vs avoidance

Sorrow Object – present evil – good of which the evil is depriving an individual Subject – consciousness of this deprivation – destruction of some unity Relation of subject and object – avoidance

Three Levels of Pain natural appetite—no consciousness – repugnant to body sensitive appetite—consciousness, but not self-consciousness intellectual appetite—self-consciousness Joy and sorrow require consciousness

Four Types of Sorrow pity=sorrow for another's evil envy=sorry for another's good, considered as one's own evil anxiety=a sorrow that weighs on the mind, so as to make escape seem impossible torpor=a sorrow that sorrow that weighs down on the appetite

The Effects of Sorrow Degrees of Depression – not so much that can oppose the evil – So much that the hope of evasion is excluded even the interior movement of the appetite is hindered – So much even exterior motion is prevented The individual is stupified

Remedies for Sorrow Pleasure Outward expression – Releases the sorrow – appropriate outward expression provides pleasure Support from others – others helping to bear the burden of sadness – love of others provide pleasure