The Presence of Augustine of Hippo and some Ancient Philosophers in Francis de Sales?s account of Anger

This article aims to analyze Francis de Sales's notion of anger from a philosophical perspective, something uncommon among their interpreters, more inclined to draw near him as a theologian. For this purpose, I'm putting the issue in context from the current debate in Ancient Philosophy between Seneca and Aristotle concerning the morality of anger and its anthropological value, followed by Augustine of Hippo's account of anger. Secondly, I address some anthropological considerations on anger carried out by Francis de Sales through some Greek, Medieval and Monastic authors with whom his thought is related. Finally, I make an appraisal of the Salesian stance about the moral value of anger, emphasizing that Francis de Sales was not a Stoic thinker. At the same time, he separates himself from the Aristotelian position on the matter.