While ancient civilizations worshipped strong, active emotions, modern societies
have favored more peaceful attitudes, especially within the democratic process.
We have largely forgotten the struggle to make use of thymos, the part of the s
oul that, following Plato, contains spirit, pride, and indignation. Rather, Chri
stianity and psychoanalysis have promoted mutual understanding to overcome confl
ict.
Through unique examples, Peter Sloterdijk, the preeminent posthumanist,
argues exactly the opposite, showing how the history of Western civilization can
be read as a suppression and return of rage. By way of reinterpreting the Iliad
, Alexandre Dumas's Count of Monte Cristo, and recent Islamic political riots in
Paris, Sloterdijk proves the fallacy that rage is an emotion capable of control
. Global terrorism and economic frustrations have rendered strong emotions visib
ly resurgent, and the consequences of violent outbursts will determine internati
onal relations for decades to come.
