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Affects, doctrine of
(2,625 words)

1. Concept

The doctrine of affects is concerned with the workings of external reality on the human psyche, and, in turn, on the human body. From Greek Antiquity until the late 18th century, it was one of the key aesthetic theories of the fine arts, especially rhetoric, the dramatic arts and poetics, music, and the fine arts. The doctrine subjects the arts to a certain level of ethical and social claims, especially the claim, going back to Aristotle’s thoughts regarding catharsis, that the arts affect the emotions.

 

2. Art

From the begin…

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Rehm, Ulrich and Stollberg, Arne, “Affects, doctrine of”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_016613>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160321



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