Emotions are not the enemy of the soul. When we join hands with the light of reason, we become the most reliable wings to run powerfully toward a good life.
Five complete deep essays
Thomas Aquinas was an intellectual giant and encyclopedic thinker of the Middle Ages. In his masterpiece 『Summa Theologiae』, 'Theory of Passions' is the most elaborate emotional structure in human intellectual history, consisting of a total of 27 questions (Quaestio) and numerous detailed provisions, from questions 22 to 48.
At the time, many religious people treated emotions as 'corrupted remnants of the body' and 'dangerous temptations that pollute the soul' and emphasized only abstinence and repentance. However, Thomas made a revolutionary declaration by combining Aristotle's realist philosophy with Christian theology.
'Humans are not pure angels! 'Because we are beings whose body and soul are combined as one, feeling joy and sorrow through our senses is the essence of humanity and a beautiful gift from God.'
Thomas clearly divided human emotions (passions) into two major rooms. This classification is also strikingly similar to the emotion classification in psychology today.
�️ Pillar 1: Passiones Concupiscibiles
These are the six most direct basic emotions that attract us towards the ‘good’ we like and avoid the ‘evil’ we dislike.
① Love (Amor) ↔ ② Hate (Odium) / ③ Desire (Desiderium) ↔ ④ Disgust (Fuga) / ⑤ Joy (Gaudium) ↔ ⑥ Sorrow (Tristitia)
️ Pillar 2: Passiones Irascibiles
But life is not just a flowery path. When a great obstacle stands in the way of achieving the good you want, or when it is difficult to avoid a terrible danger, the soul enters a state of desperate struggle. These are the five emotions that arise at this time.
① Hope (Spes) ↔ ② Despair (Desperatio) / ③ Courage (Audacia) ↔ ④ Fear (Timor) / ⑤ Anger (Ira)
Thomas justified that anger is not simply a bad emotion, but 'a strong energy of resistance that seeks to destroy the obstacles and injustice that confront me and restore the original good.'
Thomas gave a very interesting political analogy about how to control the mind.
The method in which a master forcibly tramples and controls a slave, as if he were a slave, is called ‘despotic rule.’ Some people behave like cruel dictators when it comes to dealing with their emotions. When I feel even the slightest bit sad or angry, I force myself to block it out, saying, ‘Don’t think such pathetic thoughts!’ However, suppressed emotions will inevitably explode one day and destroy the soul.
The alternative presented by Thomas is ‘political domination (Politicus principatus).’ A good monarch respects the rights and voices of free citizens and governs his city peacefully through reasonable persuasion and laws. The reason should also avoid scolding the body's natural emotional response and say, 'I know why you're so angry.' But we need to gently persuade them, saying, “It’s better for all of us to go in this direction.”
Aquinas's approach to sorrow appears in the Summa Theologiae, First Part of the Second Part, Question 38. Discussing pleasure, tears, a friend's sympathy, contemplation of truth, and sleep and bathing, he considers the body and relationships together. This is an argument within medieval philosophy and theology, not a treatment protocol validated by modern medicine.
1. Enjoy any pleasure: eat delicious food or listen to your favorite music.
2. Tears: Aquinas considers sorrow finding outward expression. This does not mean that a reader today must cry.
3. Receive sympathy from friends: There is no greater comfort than the look in the eyes of a true friend with whom you can share your sorrow.
4. Meditate on the truth: Read wise books and look at the big picture of life.
5. Sleep and bathing: He takes bodily rest seriously. This is a perspective on everyday care, not a promise that these actions alone remove sorrow.
The fact that the great philosopher, who was called a saint, advised a person in sorrow to ‘take a bath and sleep’ clearly shows how completely he respected the human body and mind.
Emotion and reason are not enemies to be fought against. A person who only has reason and is emotionally dry is cold and lethargic and cannot persevere in any noble task. On the contrary, a person who has only emotions and no reason is driven to destruction like a blind runaway locomotive.
When passion combines with the good wisdom of reason, humans finally gain the driving force to accomplish great things.
A reader today can take from this account an invitation to attend to body and relationships together. If you wish, choose something possible now: comfortable rest, a meal, or a conversation with someone you trust. Continuing sadness does not mean you have done anything wrong, and these suggestions are no reason to postpone professional help when needed.