Single Idea 24005

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / c. Knowing other minds]

Full Idea

We know others' emotions by 1) understanding and explaining them, 2) emotional contagion, 3) empathy, 4) in-his-shoes imagining, and 5) sympathy.

Gist of Idea

We know other's emotions by explanation, contagion, empathy, imagination, or sympathy

Source

Peter Goldie (The Emotions [2000], 7 Intro)

Book Reference

Goldie,Peter: 'The Emotions' [OUP 2002], p.177


A Reaction

He says these must be clearly distinguished, because they are often confused. In-his-shoes is 'me in their position', where empathy is how the position is just for them. The Simulationist approach likes these two. Sympathy need not share the feelings.

Related Idea

Idea 24006 Empathy and imagining don't ensure sympathy, and sympathy doesn't need them [Goldie]