From the book
Stobaeus, Volume I
John Stobaeus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
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At a Glance
- The wordEnthousiasmos is divine inspiration, a state understood as involving the divine.
- In StobaeusThe soul treatise places movements of divine inspiration beside immaterial intellections among activities proper to soul itself, released from the composite animal.
- In this edition“Divine inspiration” conveys the intended religious force more clearly than “enthusiasm.”
- A place to beginDivine inspiration exemplifies an activity proper to soul itself.
- English renderings
- divine inspiration
Meaning
Enthousiasmos is divine inspiration, a state understood as involving the divine. Its ancient religious sense is stronger than modern enthusiasm.
Use in the book
The soul treatise places movements of divine inspiration beside immaterial intellections among activities proper to soul itself, released from the composite animal. Such movements are said to join us to gods. The claim belongs to the author’s account of distinct levels of psychic activity.
Places to read
- I.49.36.6Divine inspiration exemplifies an activity proper to soul itself.
Translation in this edition
“Divine inspiration” conveys the intended religious force more clearly than “enthusiasm.”
Source note
Wachsmuth, volume I, printed pp. 371. The connection with gods is an assertion of the excerpt, not a psychological diagnosis supplied by the editor.