Nicolas Caussin [SEP] native language
Nicolas Caussin
Nicolas Caussin (1583–1651) was a French Jesuit, a theorist of the passions. His treatise, "The Holy Court Fourth Tome", was published in 1638. This work gives a Christianized account of what he calls the four principal passions: Love, Desire, Anger, and Envy, as well as many variants and subgenres of these types. The intent of the work is to instruct the proper means for controlling these affects.
Life.
Born in Troyes, Caussin entered the Society of Jesus
(6 vols., 1695–1701).
In rhetoric, his works enjoyed a wide circulation, being used as textbooks. He supported Aristotle's definitions, and opposed Ramism. With the major influences being Aristotle and Cicero, he also cited Hermogenes, Menander Rhetor, Bartholomeus Keckermann and Nicolas Caussin.
References.
- Jean-Pierre Nicéron, "Mémoires pour servir de l'histoire des hommes illustres", vol. xiii. (Paris, 1730)
- Herzog's "Realencyklopädie", art. "Vossius"