Passions and Tempers: A History of the Humours

Passions and Tempers traces the history of the four humours—blood, phlegm, black bile, and choler—which ancient Greek physicians believed flowed through the human body to determine health, mood, and character. This theory persisted in Western thought until the seventeenth century, when more complex understandings of anatomy began to emerge. Despite being discredited, humoural theory remains embedded in language and culture in unexpected ways today. Interweaving medicine, science, psychology, and philosophy, the book explores why this theory of invisible fluids has endured so persistently. It traces the evolution of humoural concepts from historical medical texts to modern health trends, examining both the historical significance and lasting cultural impact of a theory long abandoned by science.