Passions of the Intellect: A Study of Polemics

Abstract

Polemics are a sort of critique typically suffused with inimical emotions and passions. But how are these emotions and passions to be construed? Neither authorial expression nor actual arousal properly account for their role in polemics. Rather, the polemicist must stage an unequal battle between a polemical self and the polemical target vis-à-vis an anticipated audience, skilfully handling, through his or her words, the emotions ascribed to each of them.

Early Modern Travel Books (1500-1700 ( A Pragmaphilological Approach.

“…(39) In addition to such rationality, as the epigraph of this chapter shows, he maps out his polemics as an emotional enterprise. (40) Whenever I exerted myself to refute the Christians during my disputes [Ar. munādhara] with them, I experienced a [feeling of] exaltation and exhilaration sent upon me from God, so that I was honoured in their eyes [...].…”