Single Idea 23977

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / c. Role of emotions]

Full Idea

Consider striking a blow or seeking safety unemotionally. Now consider when you act out of emotion: angrily striking the blow, or fearfully running away. The phenomenology of such actions is fundamentally different in character.

Gist of Idea

When actions are performed 'out of' emotion, they appear to be quite different

Source

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

Book Reference

Goldie,Peter: 'The Emotions' [OUP 2002], p.40


A Reaction

True, I guess. This has the behaviourist's problem of Superactors and Superspartans, of pretended or suppressed anger or fear. There is a sliding scale from stone cold to frenzied emotion.