A history of the evils soul in Portuguese Brazilian culture: Essays

This book examines ideas about the ills of the soul that circulated in Brazil between the 16th and 18th centuries, through an analysis of medical, philosophical, theological and literary works from Portuguese-Brazilian and European culture that, in some way, deal with the issue of sad passions and diseased states of the soul. Topics such as mourning, illness and the fragility of life, the limits of lucidity, and even eating disorders and alcohol abuse are addressed. Far from a linear and exhaustive historical reconstruction of discourses on mental pathologies, its proposal consists of a survey of multidisciplinary sources that allow for reflection on traditions of psychological knowledge and ancient practices for treating mental suffering. In short, it is another way of thinking about the long history of psychopathology and clinical psychology.