Single Idea 23975

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / g. Controlling emotions]

Full Idea

The process of teaching a child how to identify things which are dangerous is typically one and the same process as teaching that child when fear is merited. ...'Dangerous' is an evaluative property, meriting a certain sort of response.

Gist of Idea

Learning an evaluative property like 'dangerous' is also learning an emotion

Source

Peter Goldie (The Emotions [2000], 2 'Education')

Book Reference

Goldie,Peter: 'The Emotions' [OUP 2002], p.30


A Reaction

I like this, because it shows the unity between our inner life and our experience of the external world. Concepts and emotions are usually responses, rather than private initiatives.