Depression in Antiquity : recognition of the symptoms of depressive illness in Plato and Aristotle
This thesis examines the extent to which Major Depressive Disorder was recognised in fifth- and fourth-century Athens. The aims of this thesis are to show that, within their discussions of psychological disturbance, Plato and Aristotle identify clusters of symptoms that typically occur together, and that these symptoms have a positive correlation with the categorisation of depression as expressed in DSM-V. Both of these areas are currently undiscussed in scholarship. I begin by discussing the historical healing context in which these philosophers were writing. I then examine how each philosopher viewed the existing healing methods and discuss their individual conceptions of virtue to explain why they evidently felt justified in contributing to these discussions. In Chapter 3, I show that, in Timaeus 86b1-87a9, Plato identifies four out of the nine DSM symptoms of depression and that he presents a symptomatic model that requires these symptoms to occur simultaneously. I then suggest that this Timaean symptomatic model is represented in the characterisation of Apollodorus in Phaedo and Symposium. Finally, I argue that Plato gives these symptoms a physical origin, suggesting that diseases of the soul originate
Enright, Natalie Ann
Depression in Antiquity : recognition of the symptoms of depressive illness in Plato and Aristotle. This thesis examines the extent to which Major Depressive Disorder was recognised in fifth- and fourth-century Athens. The aims of this thesis are to show that, within their discussions of psychological disturbance, Plato and Aristotle identify clusters of symptoms that typically occur together, and that these symptoms have a positive correlation with the categorisation of depression as expressed in DSM-V. Both of these areas are currently undiscussed in scholarship. I begin by discussing the historical healing context in which these philosophers were writing. I then examine how each philosopher viewed the existing healing methods and discuss their individual conceptions of virtue to explain why they evidently felt justified in contributing to these discussions. In Chapter 3, I show that, in Timaeus 86b1-87a9, Plato identifies four out of the nine DSM symptoms of depression and that he presents a symptomatic model that requires these symptoms to occur simultaneously. I then suggest that this Timaean symptomatic model is represented in the characterisation of Apollodorus in Phaedo and Symposium. Finally, I argue that Plato gives these symptoms a physical origin, suggesting that diseases of the soul originate
depression antiquity recognition symptom depressive illness plato_aristotle examines_extent major depressive disorder recognise athens aim_show within discussion psychological disturbance plato_aristotle identify cluster symptom typically occur together symptom positive correlation categorisation depression express area currently scholarship begin discuss historical heal context philosopher write examine philosopher view exist heal method discuss individual conception virtue explain evidently felt justified contribute discussion show plato identify_four symptom depression present symptomatic model require symptom occur simultaneously suggest symptomatic model represent characterisation finally argue_plato give symptom physical origin suggest disease soul originate