
190. What’s the Point of Nostalgia?
No Stupid Questions
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Nostalgia was once viewed as a psychopathological disorder
During the 17th to 19th centuries, nostalgia was considered a psychopathological disorder, coined by a Swiss physician Johannes Hulfare in 1688. The term originates from the Greek words no-stose meaning homecoming and algaus meaning pain. It was likened to paranoia and seen as a serious issue, especially evident in wartime when soldiers missed their loved ones. An extreme example in 1733 involved a general in the Russian army threatening to bury alive anyone affected by nostalgia, a threat he carried out. This historical view of nostalgia as a disease seems bizarre compared to our current understanding and appreciation of nostalgia.
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