Aristotle’s understanding of emotions resonates through the centuries. In his Rhetoric, Aristotle describes emotions as psychological states that involve pleasure or pain and are closely related to our perceptions of good and evil. As such, they need to be cultivated and refined through moral education and virtuous living. This approach offers deep insights into how we can manage our own emotions in our contemporary lives – and especially through a Catholic lens.
Aristotle categorized emotions as responses to specific situations that reflect our judgments about what we consider important. For example, anger arises when we perceive an injustice against us or someone we care about. Fear arises when we anticipate harm, while hope is the expectation of good things to come. According to Aristotle, emotions are not inherently good or bad, but they can be directed rightly or wrongly, depending on the context and reason behind them. This perspective is consistent with the Catholic understanding that emotions, while part of our human nature, should be guided by reason and virtue.
Finding balance
For Aristotle, the proper management of emotions is integral to a balanced and virtuous life. He emphasized the concept of the mean (the famous Greek “tó medón”) where virtue lies between the extremes of excess and deficiency. In the case of emotions, this means that one should strive for a balanced emotional response: neither too intense nor too passive, but just right – à la Goldilocks, if you will. This principle is echoed in Catholic teaching, which advocates temperance, the virtue that helps us regulate our desires and emotions according to reason.
As Aquinas clearly showed, Aristotle’s insights can be applied to our spiritual lives today. By recognizing that emotions are natural and inevitable, we can approach them with compassion rather than repression. However, Aristotle also teaches us that emotions should not dominate our lives. Instead, they should be harmonized with reason and directed toward the good. This is consistent with the Catholic practice of examining one’s conscience and cultivating virtues such as patience, humility, and charity. In this way, we can respond to life’s challenges with a calm and measured heart, allowing us to grow closer to God.
In a world where emotions often run high and unchecked, Aristotle’s teachings remind us of the importance of balance and self-control. His wisdom encourages us to embrace our emotions, but always in a way that leads us toward virtue and, ultimately, a deeper union with God.
