A study of visual hallucination in classical and Hellenistic antiquity

D051 Ancient History;DF Greece

Erdman, Marisol Elisabeth ; Xenofontos, Sophia

University:University of Glasgow

Department:School of Humanities

关键词: Hallucination, vision, perception, misperception, Greek medicine, Greek philosophy, Greek tragedy, madness, mental illness in antiquity, phantasia, phantasmata.;   

Others  :  http://theses.gla.ac.uk/74407/1/2019ErdmanMRes.pdf

来源: University of Glasgow

【 摘 要 】

This dissertation examines accounts of visual hallucination from the Classical and Hellenistic periods from a variety of perspectives to consider the relationship between visual misperceptions and madness. To achieve this I adopt a thematic approach, drawing upon a range of primary textual sources – medical, philosophical and tragic – which describe or discuss the topic. As we will see, the various theories put forth by the writers on hallucination also offer insight into ideas on the workings of the mind and body in these periods, which in turn inform the writers’ understanding of why those experiencing madness may see things that others around them do not.