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Single Idea 23954

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

Full Idea

An emotion is a basic judgement about our Selves and our place in the world, the projection of the values and ideals, structures and mythologies

Gist of Idea

Emotions are judgements about ourselves, and our place in the world

Source

Robert C. Solomon (The Passions [1976], 5.3)

Book Ref

Solomon,Robert C.: 'The Passions (1993 ed)' [Hackett 1993], p.126


A Reaction

Solomon's main theory. What about the Frege-Geach problem - that I feel emotions (and judgements) about fictions and remote events, in which my personal concerns and involvement are zero? Presumably these emotions are parasitic on his primary type?


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

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