Envy and the body in pre-modern medicine

What is it about?

Envy is discussed as part of the broader scheme of emotions, health and disease in the past. The article explains that much more than mental discomfort, envy was conceived as actual physical suffering that was manifested mainly in atrophy (excessive leaness), with its symptoms localized in the abdomen, and was linked to grievous diseases, such as cancer.

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Why is it important?

The article can helps contextualize some of our contemporary notions surrounding the negativity of envy in particular- or, in more general terms, how we still link negative emotions to disease today.