How did the conceptualization of human emotions evolve within Western philosophical discourse from the classical period through the Renaissance? Simo Knuuttila, a Professor of Theological Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion, utilizes his expertise to examine the shifting definitions of affective states. By synthesizing primary source texts with rigorous historical reconstruction, he maps the transition from ancient Greek theories to medieval scholastic interpretations of emotional experience.

Scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the historical development of emotion theory in Western thought. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in philosophical terminology to fully grasp the arguments presented.