Aristotle and Stoics Theories on Emotion - Essay Example

Julia Annas is both and an academician in the line of ancient philosophy. Julia has written many books to describethe ancient philosophy and their philosopher’s philosophy (Plato 31). Annas, a professor in one of the US universities, has written journals and articles talking about philosophers. Julia describes philosophical issues and argues in her book, including famous philosophers; Plato, Aristotle and Stoics. She also features other scholars but the main core of this work discusses Aristotle and Stoics in reference to the dealing of anger. Aristotle an esteemed philosopher born in Greek was a philosophy tutor and an apprentice of Plato. He is an author of numerous works with their basis for his opinion regarding some issues like physical sciences, the sources of happiness, ethics of the Greek people and treatment of anger. His philosophies had a significant influence on the philosophical theories in the Western world (Plato 31). The history of the Stoics traces in the Hellenistic times. It consists of a number of philosophers teaching and talking about their views on philosophical issues during that period. Zeno originated with Stoicism philosophy, and he hailed from Athens as a teacher (Plato 34). His lecturing was noteworthy because it took place outside the classroom environment. Alexander, who was Aristotle’s student later, took over the philosophy. The philosopher addresses several areas, just like the issues by Aristotle’s philosophy as it has done (Plato 94). This philosophy is dissimilar to Aristotle in some issues and the manner of arguing out their issues. The only difference between this philosophy and that of Aristotle is how they view the issue of anger treatment differently. Aristotle theory on emotions Aristotle reflects that anger has effects in the life and actions of an individual with that emotion. It is for that reason that he suggests that individuals should be careful prior adopting any action when they are angry. He connects anger to choices and choices by the person in question here. This theory explains that human beings should wait until their anger is over, so that they act to avoid regrets (Plato 110). Aristotle suggests that it is a cognitive response, meaning that the causes of resentment are due to a communication of the person’s mind and body. The effect is always negative as people tend to make wrong choices when angry, choices that they later regret. Reason being, communication to mind is so quick that the person does not realize the wrong act he is doing, which ends up being revenge. This response is the cognitive feeling. Aristotle stresses that there exists two principal types of emotions (Plato 122). They depend on the reaction that anger causes on the person. One of them is the counter-voluntary where the effects and actions happen so quick making it impossible to change anything at the time. Aristotle compares humans and animals in the case of anger and emotional reactions (Plato 29). Unlike animals, individuals have the capability of controlling their actions and intellect prior taking any action. Animals do not deliberate their actions as they act towards some natural feelings like desire for food (Plato 93). Stoics’ theory on emotion Thinking of Stoic elaborates emotion as a physiological feeling of a person’s belief. It says that emotions can be anger, happiness or fear, and the basis of emotions is the formation of an individual’s belief regarding the situation (Plato 122). Stoic gives an example of this fear, where a person feels and beliefs that there is something erroneous happening; hence, the emotion of fear abounds in the person. When an individual forms a belief that something dressy or exciting will happen, he gets an emotion of happiness. According to this philosopher, emotions are experiences from sensations. Stoic associates anger as a vice and happiness as a virtue. This theory associates the causes of anger to be communication of the body with the divine. It argues that an individual must have a clear understanding of the feelings that come with the emotion, so that he makes the right choices. The individual must understand and accept the emotional changes and learn to deal with them, so that the charge on it is a positive one (Plato 119). According to Stoic, passive victims are those who fail to acknowledge the emotions surrounding them. Stoic defines anger as the feeling and desire in humanity. Diversity amid the two philosophies on the theory of emotion The ideas of emotions of the two philosophers contrast each other in many ways, because of how they discuss and view treatment of anger (Plato 122). Aristotle states that emotions are rational, while Plato relates anger to acts that are opposition to it. Plato observes that anger is challenging and rational, a force. This shows that his view on anger is more of the negative outcome compared to positive effect, which is why he suggests that it is a challenge and a strong force. Aristotle says that anger represents the response of a wrong act done on somebody, for purposes of the psychology. Anger in this case, may lead to vengeance so that the individual avenges to get equal to the wrong done on him. The major divergence amid the two presumptions is that; Aristotle believes that anger is a feeling that brings pain and bitterness. Plato, however, believes that it is just a feeling or desire, but does not carry bitterness. Plato theory suggests that anger is a feeling that comes up when an individual feels somebody or something offends him. It is wrath against an action done to an individual, which leads to vengeance or sometimes punishment and so much bitterness (Plato 20). There are changes done on the two philosophies regarding anger treatment. A good example of this is the proposal of Oatley. Aristotle has the better argument than Stoic possesses, since; realistically anger is a feeling that causes pain and bitterness to the individual. Anger is due to communication of the body plus the mind and not of the body and divine, as Stoic suggests. Aristotle further expounds that an individuals suffers the pain of anger, for he feels that there is an offence confronting him. It also brings affliction due to vengeance, which injustice it cause. According to Stoic, pain is a primary emotion, while Aristotle thinks it is secondary. Pain is secondary because it accompanies the emotion of anger. Aristotle’s theory is better because it gives ways of handling and dealing with anger so that it does not bring negative effects to the individual. Stoic theory, however, does not give goo measures to avoid the bad effects of anger to individuals. Work cited Plato. Plato - Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub Co Inc. 2002. Print. Read More