Philosophy and the Emotions

This major volume of original essays maps the place of emotion in human nature, through a discussion of the relation between consciousness and body; by analysing the importance of emotion for human agency by pointing to the ways in which practical rationality may be enhanced, as well as hindered, by emotions; and by exploring questions of value in making sense of emotions at a political, ethical and personal level. Leading researchers in the field reflect on the nature of human feelings, how and why we understand what other people feel, and the way in which our values become involved in specific emotional phenomena, such as guilt, fear, shame, amusement, or love. This collection addresses important questions in the philosophy of mind and comments on the implications of research in biology, cognitive psychology, psychoanalysis, and narrative theory for the philosophical understanding of emotions.

• Contributions from leading thinkers in the field • Takes account of research in biology, psychology and literary theory • Written in an accessible style

1. Emotions, thoughts and feelings: what is a ‘cognitive theory’ of the emotions and does it neglect affectivity? Robert C. Solomon; 2. Emotions and their philosophy of mind Richard Wollheim; 3. Basic emotions, complex emotions, Machiavellian emotions Paul E. Griffiths; 4. Emotion, psychosemantics, and embodied appraisals Jesse Prinz; 5. Emotions and the problem of other minds Hanna Pickard; 6. Emotional feelings and intentionalism Anthony Hatzimoysis; 7. Emotions, rationality and mind/body Patricia Greenspan; 8. The significance of recalcitrant emotion (or, anti-quasijudgmentalism) Justin D’Arms and Daniel Jacobson; 9. The logic of emotions Aaron Ben-Ze’ev; 10. Emotion and desire in self-deception Alfred R. Mele; 11. Emotion, weakness of will, and the normative conception of agency Karen Jones; 12. Narrative and perspective; values and appropriate emotions Peter Goldie; 13. Passion and politics Susan James; 14. Don’t worry, feel guilty J. David Velleman.