more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 23951

[filed under theme 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / a. Nature of emotions ]

Full Idea

By emotion [affectus] I understand the modification of energy of the body by which the power of action is aided or restrained.

Gist of Idea

Emotion is a modification of bodily energy, controlling our actions

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675]), quoted by Robert C. Solomon - The Passions 3.4

Book Ref

Solomon,Robert C.: 'The Passions (1993 ed)' [Hackett 1993], p.86

A Reaction

[no ref given] Solomon gives this as the earliest version of the 'hydraulic' model of emotions, later found in Freud and Jung. Very unusual to give a wholly physical account of these psychic states.

Related Idea

Idea 23952 I say bodily chemistry and its sensations have nothing to do with emotions [Solomon]

The 17 ideas with the same theme [essential nature of an emotion]:

23951 Emotion is a modification of bodily energy, controlling our actions [Spinoza]
23950 Freud said passions are pressures of some flowing hydraulic quantity [Freud, by Solomon]
23981 Rage is inconceivable without bodily responses; so there are no disembodied emotions [James]
24013 An emotion and its object form a unity, so emotion is a mode of apprehension [Sartre]
24017 Emotion is one of our modes of understanding our Being-in-the-World [Sartre]
22235 Feelings are not unchanging, but have a history (especially if they are noble) [Foucault]
23952 I say bodily chemistry and its sensations have nothing to do with emotions [Solomon]
23954 Emotions are judgements about ourselves, and our place in the world [Solomon]
23960 Emotions are defined by their objects [Solomon]
23961 The heart of an emotion is its judgement of values and morality [Solomon]
23965 Emotions can be analysed under fifteen headings [Solomon]
2323 Emotions have both intentionality and qualia [Kim]
4906 Babies show highly emotional brain events, but may well be unaware of them [Carter,R]
23978 'Having an emotion' differs from 'being emotional' [Goldie]
23973 Unlike moods, emotions have specific objects, though the difference is a matter of degree [Goldie]
23974 Emotional intentionality as belief and desire misses out the necessity of feelings [Goldie]
23972 A long lasting and evolving emotion is still seen as a single emotion, such as love [Goldie]