The Nature of Melancholy : From Aristotle to Kristeva

Spanning 24 centuries, this anthology collects over thirty selections of important Western writing about melancholy and its related conditions by philosophers, doctors, religious and literary figures, and modern psychologists. Truly interdisciplinary, it is the first such anthology. As it traces Western attitudes, it reveals a conversation across centuries and continents as the authors interpret, respond, and build on each other's work. Editor Jennifer Radden provides an extensive, in-depth introduction that draws links and parallels between the selections, and reveals the ambiguous relationship between these historical accounts of melancholy and today's psychiatric views on depression. This important new collection is also beautifully illustrated with depictions of melancholy from Western fine art. "Spanning twenty four centuries, this anthology collects over thirty selections from important Western writing about melancholy and related conditions by philosophers, doctors, religious and literary figures, and modern psychologists. It reveals a conversation across centuries and continents as the authors interpret, respond to, and build on each other's work. Truly interdisciplinary, it is the first collection of original texts on melancholy, melancholia, and depression.". "Arranged historically and accompanied by introductory notes for the general reader, the selections emphasize conceptual questions about the nature of melancholic states, their definition, classification, and alleged causal origin, as well as their characteristic signs, symptoms, and subjectivity. Among the selections are writings by such diverse authors as Galen, Hildegard of Bingen, Weyer, Rush, Keats, Baudelaire, Kraepelin, Freud, and Beck. This up-to-date collection presents recent authoritative translations of works either long out of print in English or never before translated into English." "This anthology will be an excellent text for courses in psychology, philosophy of mind, medicine, social work, women's studies, and cultural studies. The Nature of Melancholy will also be fruitful reading for those who suffer from depression, as well as their families, care-givers, clinicians, and therapists."--BOOK JACKET. Spanning 24 Centuries, This Anthology Collects Over Thirty Selections Of Important Western Writing About Melancholy And Its Related Conditions By Philosophers, Doctors, Religious And Literary Figures, And Modern Psychologists. Truly Interdisciplinary, It Is The First Such Anthology. As It Traces Western Attitudes, It Reveals A Conversation Across Centuries And Continents As The Authors Interpret, Respond, And Build On Each Other's Work. (pub. Description). Aristotle (or A Follower Of Aristotle) -- Galen -- Cassian -- Avicenna -- Hidegard Of Bingen -- Ficino -- Weyer -- Teresa Of Avila -- Bright -- Burton -- Butler -- Mather -- Finch, Countess Of Winchilsea -- Boerhaave -- Goethe -- Kant -- Pinel -- Rush -- Keats -- Griesinger -- Baudelaire -- Smiles -- Maudsley -- Kraepelin -- Freud -- Klein -- Seligman -- Beck -- Miller -- Kristeva -- Goodwin And Jamison. Edited By Jennifer Radden. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 361-368) And Index. Part 1: Aristotle to Freud. 1. Aristotle (or a Follower of Aristotle), Melancholy, from Problems. 2. Galen, Diseases of the Black Bile, from On the Affected Parts. 3. Cassian, Of the Spirit of Accidie, from The Foundations of the Cenobitic Life and the Eight Capital Sins Book X Chapters I-IV. 4. Avicenna, On Black Bileand Melancholia, from Canon of Medicine. 5. Hildegard of Bingen, Melancholia in Men and Women, from Holistic Healing. 6. Ficino, Learned People and Melancholy, from The Three Books of Life. 7. Weyer, Melancholia, Witches, and Deceiving Demons, from Of Deceiving Demons. 8 Teresa o Part 1: Aristotle to Freud 1. Aristotle (or a Follower of Aristotle), Melancholy, from Problems 2. Galen, Diseases of the Black Bile, from On the Affected Parts 3. Cassian, Of the Spirit of Accidie, from The Foundations of the Cenobitic Life and the Eight Capital Sins Book X Chapters I-IV 4. Avicenna, On Black Bile and Melancholia, from Canon of Medicine 5. Hildegard of Bingen, Melancholia in Men and Women, from Holistic Healing 6. Ficino, Learned People and Melancholy, from The Three Books of Life 7. Weyer, Melancholia, Witches, and Deceiving Demons, from Of Deceiving Demons 8 Teresa Spanning 24 centuries, this anthology collects over 30 pieces of Western writing about melancholy and related conditions. It unravels an ongoing conversation across centuries and continents as thinkers interpret, respond, and build on each other's work THE GREEK PHILOSOPHER Aristotle lived between 384 and 322 B.C.E.