Getting Medieval on Modern Anger
Do medieval Christian teachings about wrath offer any insights on contemporary debates about the usefulness of anger in public discourse? Not that long ago, the adjective “medieval” was commonly applied in popular media to unrestrained and even cruel rage in opposition to enlightened, modern restraint—much to the ire of medievalists. Today, being angry is all the rage and a sign of modern liberation. From both ends of the political spectrum, angry, punishing discourses are amplified by social media and even infiltrate the academy. Yet not everyone thinks anger is cool. The debate about anger’s legitimacy goes back millennia. Leading thinkers, like Martha Nussbaum and Myisha Cherry, still reference Aristotle and Stoics but pass over the rich medieval intellectual and cultural traditions about anger. Instead of being irked at this slight, this medievalist will meekly offer his observations about how the current debate could be enriched by getting a bit medieval on the subject of anger.