‘Acedia’ 700–1200
Siegfried Wenzel
Among the seven deadly sins, none is more interesting to study for its historical development and complexity of meaning than sin acedia . For while companions — with possible exception avarice remained fairly static through centuries medieval thought, indeed have so present, presented a variety faces changed in very nature, from moment when it entered Christian teaching West fifteenth century. In thinking, pride has always been pride; psychological roots may explained agreement different philosophical systems, manifestations vary according changing attitudes experiences, but nature essentially unchanged. The same true envy, wrath, lust, others. But not A reflection which this concept acquired during lifetime can still be seen totally connotations names cognoscenti today. ancient term fascinates because suggests such phenomena as spiritual dryness, ennui or WeItschmerz, vernacular equivalent sloth , everyone readily agrees, stands something common ordinary that hardly deserves second thought.
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