dispassion

Dispassion is a state of calm, rational self-control characterized by a reduction or absence of intense emotional arousal. The term derives from dis- (“apart” or “away”) combined with passion, from Latin passio; in English it appeared in the early modern period to describe a temperate, undisturbed disposition toward judgment or action.

In philosophy and ethics, dispassion denotes impartial judgment and equanimity, rather than indifference. It means perceiving facts and evaluating consequences without letting personal desires, anger, or fear unduly bias one’s conclusions.

In practice, dispassion is valued in domains that require careful decision-making or crisis management, such as law, science, and medicine. It is also a recurring ideal in traditions such as Stoicism, which teaches mastery of the passions to achieve moral clarity and resilience.

Critics argue that too much dispassion can blunt moral sensitivity or impede compassion. Cultural norms shape how dispassion is defined or valued, and psychological research emphasizes emotion regulation rather than outright suppression.

See also: equanimity, impartiality, rationality, stoicism, temperance.