Propatheia

The involuntary, pre-conscious first emotional stirring of body and soul in response to external stimuli, not yet transformed into a full passion through rational assent.

Propatheia (from pro- 'before' and pathos 'suffering/feeling') denotes in Stoic psychology the immediate, non-moral pre-emotion or proto-passion. It encompasses involuntary physical and psychological reactions such as startling, tears, sweating, or a racing heart. These first stirrings are expressions of nature and are neither virtue nor vice. They become genuine Pathē (passions) only when the Hegemonikon (ruling faculty) grants them Synkatathesis (rational assent).