The Cartesian Shift: Redefining Passions from Medieval to Contemporary Perspectives

Our aim in this paper is to investigate the novelties that Descartes’ theory of passions brings to contemporary emotion theories by contrasting it with a medieval understanding of passions. We review how Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine of Hippo, John of Damascus and Thomas Aquinas apprehend passions and compare their view to Descartes’ as well as the other three most prominent contemporary theories of emotions: Jesse Prinz’s theory, enactive theory. According to medieval perspectives, passions are seen through a value-laden lens and are deeply intertwined with religious beliefs. Descartes’ theory of passions started their process of naturalization and secularization. On the other hand, we claim that the difference between the contemporary understanding of emotions and the medieval understanding of passions is not as significant as it is usually portrayed. In both cases, bodily and active aspects of passions (emotions) are present. So, while Descartes indeed influenced a new outlook and productive scientific discussion about passions and emotions, we do not think that the value-laden perspective was erased. We will try to demonstrate our thesis by analyzing the medieval perspective on the passion of sorrow and comparing it to contemporary views on sadness and depression.