| Unit name | Emotions in the Ancient World |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CLASM1010 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Lampe |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
none |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department | Department of Classics & Ancient History |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Long before Freudian psychodynamics, Darwinian evolutionary psychology, and recent cognitive science, classical authors were creating and putting in action sophisticated theories of emotion. In this unit, we will examine an array of Greek and Roman texts, ranging from tragedy and history to oratory and philosophy, in order to see what insight classical discussions and depictions of emotion can give us into both ancient cultures and modern experiences. We will also delve selectively into modern discussions of "passions", "emotions" and "sentimentality". among our themes will be the relation between feeling and thought in emotions, whether emotions must be opposed to "reason" whether emotions can be "educated" (leading to greater "emotional intelligence") and the extent to which emotions are culturally specific. Among the emotions on which we'll focus are pride and honor, shame and regret, boredom and melancholy, love and lust, compassion and pity, anger and hatred.
