There isn't much on emotions in Epicurean texts.
Here are some further thoughts, and a website about primary and secondary emotions:
Primary emotions: Joy, Trust, Fear, Surprise, Sadness, Disgust, Anger, Anticipation
The main difference between primary and secondary emotions is that primary emotions are how we react to events and situations, whereas secondary emotions are reactions to how we feel.
For example, feeling shame (secondary) about feeling fear (primary) in a certain situation. The distinction helps in understanding emotional reactions and their underlying causes more deeply.
You can also ask yourself whether the emotions receded after the initiating event receded. If the emotion was strong at first but has since diminished, it is likely a primary emotion. If the emotion continues long after the event and interferes with your abilities in the present, it is likely secondary.
There isn't much on emotions in Epicurean texts.
Definitely check out Philodemus' On Anger. He has a lot to say about the spectrum of human emotion, particularly, a comparison of natural "anger" versus contemptuous "rage".
His treatise On Frank Criticism provides advice for guides and teachers to observe a student's temperament so that constructive criticism can be delivered and received most effectively.
In a few places throughout On Death, Philodemus describes the lamentation that can come from a sudden loss, and evaluates how healthy it is to ruminate versus reflect. This seems to echo KD40 as well as Vatican Saying 66, which recommends against indulging depression.
In the sagely sayings that Diogenes records, Epicurus is documented as having identified hatred, envy, and contempt, in particular, as being unhealthy emotions that must be overcome by reason. He also recognizes happiness, gratitude, and pity (in terms of feelings towards servants, as is written), and then cautions against romance, love (i.e. infatuation), and sexual arousal.
There's also a fair amount of discussion on fear. (Come to think of it, I should have started with this, because overcoming Fear of God and Fear of Death are expressed in KD1 and KD2). KD10 discusses the uselessness of physical pleasure if the mind is stunted by fear from the unknown, and then in KD12, follows up by identifying sympathy for myth as a primary source of fear.
I personally find a lot of useful tips as far as counsel goes for feeling shame, guilt, and worthlessness from economic insecurity. In particular, Bailey fragments 29, 37, 48, 85, and KD15. Nowhere does he explicitly mention those emotions by name, but that's how I read into those sayings.
There isn't much on emotions in Epicurean texts.
Definitely check out Philodemus'...
Thanks Eikadistes I forgot about Philodemus. I have not studied much of his writings, because they are so fragmentary in nature. Appreciating the links you've included in your post.
