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Single Idea 23964

[filed under theme 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / e. Basic emotions ]

Full Idea

There are no 'basic' emotions, only those emotions which are prevalent in a particular society. This reduction to a small set makes it impossible to appreciate the richness of our emotional lives.

Gist of Idea

There are no 'basic' emotions, only socially prevalent ones

Source

Robert C. Solomon (The Passions [1976], 8)

Book Ref

Solomon,Robert C.: 'The Passions (1993 ed)' [Hackett 1993], p.224

A Reaction

He cites Descartes as a culprit, and John Watson's famous list of fear, dependency and rage. I think Solomon is probably right. He suggests that the lists are usually individualistic and negative. Individuals may have their private basics!

The 26 ideas from 'The Passions'

23942 Philosophy is creating an intellectual conceptual structure for life [Solomon]
23943 Distinguishing reason from passion is based on an archaic 'faculty' theory [Solomon]
23945 Reason is actually passions, guided by perspicacious reflection [Solomon]
23944 Emotions are our life force, and the source of most of our values [Solomon]
23946 The passions are subjective, concerning what is important to me, rather than facts [Solomon]
23940 Emotions are strategies for maximising our sense of dignity and self-esteem [Solomon]
23936 It is only our passions which give our lives meaning [Solomon]
23937 It is reason which needs the anchorage of passions, rather than vice versa [Solomon]
23941 'Absurdity' is just the result of our wrong choices in life [Solomon]
23947 Dividing ourselves into confrontational reason and passion destroys our harmonious whole [Solomon]
23949 Passions exist as emotions, moods and desires, which all generate meaning [Solomon]
23948 Wisdom needs both thought and passion, with each reflecting on the other [Solomon]
23952 I say bodily chemistry and its sensations have nothing to do with emotions [Solomon]
23953 Feeling is a superficial aspect of emotion, and may be indeterminate, or even absent [Solomon]
23954 Emotions are judgements about ourselves, and our place in the world [Solomon]
23955 Ideologies are mythologies which guide our actions [Solomon]
23958 The supposed irrationality of our emotions is often tactless or faulty expression of them [Solomon]
23956 The Myth of the Passions says they are irrational, uncontrolled and damaging [Solomon]
23957 We often trust our intuitions as rational, despite their lack of reflection [Solomon]
23959 Some emotions are externally directed, others internally [Solomon]
23963 Which emotions we feel depends on our sense of our own powers [Solomon]
23960 Emotions are defined by their objects [Solomon]
23961 The heart of an emotion is its judgement of values and morality [Solomon]
23962 Lovers adopt the interests of their beloved, rather than just valuing them [Solomon]
23965 Emotions can be analysed under fifteen headings [Solomon]
23964 There are no 'basic' emotions, only socially prevalent ones [Solomon]