Study Notes on Anger (Wrath) as a Deadly Sin

Lecture Two: The Vice of Anger (Wrath)

Introduction

  • Overview of the lecture focusing on the vice of anger, also referred to as wrath.

  • Key figures referenced: Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas, image displayed in the slide.

Anger, Revenge, and Hope

  • Distinction made between general anger and vice anger.

  • Anger as a virtue is also considered.

Aquinas on Anger

  • In his work Summa Theologica, Aquinas addresses anger, specifically question 40.

  • Object of Anger: The object of anger is, in itself, perceived as good, not evil.

    • Definition: The object of anger refers to the goal, purpose, or aim of the emotion.

    • Example: Infants express anger due to discomfort or hunger; non-human animals exhibit anger for self-preservation (life and health).

  • Aquinas asserts that anger itself desires revenge, a point aligned with Saint Augustine's views.

Revenge as a Concept

  • Revenge is analyzed not as inherently evil but as a form of justice.

    • Definition of Revenge: A kind of satisfaction that arises from repaying injuries.

    • Examples:

    • Physical harm is not the only means of seeking revenge; reputational harm (e.g., public shaming) and financial harm (e.g., suing) are included.

    • Revenge can manifest in milder forms such as demanding an apology, signifying a desire for acknowledgment and satisfaction for the wrongdoing.

    • Conversely, refusing to accept an apology reflects harmful vengeance.

The Importance of Acknowledging Anger's Role

  • Genuine forgiveness often requires acknowledgment of the anger felt by the wronged party and recognizing their justification for this anger.

  • Conditional Apology: An ineffective form of remorse typically framed as, "I’m sorry if…" which diminishes the other individual's feelings.

  • A real apology recognizes the hurt caused without any preconditions.

Anger and Hope

  • Anger is posited to always be accompanied by hope for restoration of justice.

  • Aristotle’s view that there is a pleasurable aspect to anger due to hope is highlighted.

    • Anger as painful: Despite its discomfort, anger can bring a kind of gratification rooted in the desire for justice.

  • Example: The pleasure derived from the hope that justice will be served or that a slight will be rectified.

  • Loss of Hope: Results in a lack of anger; one who ceases to hope has emotionally checked out and become apathetic.

Anger Related to Pain and Sorrow

  • Aristotle vs. Aquinas:

    • Aristotle ascribes anger to pain inflicted, often suffering from public insults or slights.

    • Aquinas shifts this view, suggesting sorrow is more accurately tied to these emotions.

  • Anger is a response aimed at punishment, contingent upon the perceived equal status of the transgressor; overwhelming power imbalances lead to sorrow rather than anger.

    • Chronic feelings of hurt and powerlessness can manifest as depression rather than anger, illustrating a continuous cycle of sorrow without recourse to justice.

Nature of Anger

  • Anger is expressed as a mixed emotion, akin to a color that yields no direct opposite.

    • Composed of hope (pleasure in anger) and sorrow (pain in anger).

  • Misconceptions about anger being entirely irrational are challenged; rather, anger is capable of being guided by reason.

  • Warping Aristotle’s perspective: Intense desire can overwhelm reason more easily than anger can.

    • Those temperamentally inclined to anger may express it more readily than others driven by desire.

Virtues and Vices of Anger

The Virtue of Anger

  • Righteous anger is aligned with virtue - appropriately directed anger that seeks justice.

    • Praise-worthy anger arises when directed by reason, reflecting moral principles and corrective action.

Types of Anger (Aquinas)

  • Aquinas delineates three species of anger based on increasing intensity:

    1. Choleric: Quick to anger; explosive tendencies.

    2. Bitterness: Anger retained over long periods; grudges maintained long past their relevance.

    3. Rancor: Excessive desire for vengeance; revenge becomes an obsession.

Anger and Emotion

  • Distinguishing between anger as emotion and anger as vice and its destructive tendencies.

    • Anger is seen to cause emotional distress in excess, whereas envy stands as inherently negative.

Anger as a Sin

  • Anger in itself is defined as not sinful; it becomes sinful when irrational or disordered.

    • Mortal sin is characterized by the desire for unjust revenge.

    • Emotional outbursts (beyond flashes of anger) exhibit loss of control, leading to potential moral failings.

The Influence of Anger on Society

  • An acknowledgment of the environment cultivated by societal anger is made.

    • Examples of road rage incidents serve as cautionary tales about the descent into violence facilitated by undirected anger.

  • Encouragement for a more profound understanding of the vice of anger as it relates to reason and responsibility in interpersonal relationships.

Conclusion

  • The lecture concludes with a call to recognize our societal tendency toward anger, noting how it has been increasingly justified in public displays.

  • An invitation for self-reflection on the nature of anger and the importance of regulating it with rational thought to foster a healthier society.