Philosophy 356K: Emotion Theory
Fall, 2012
REVISED SYLLABUS
Texts:
Peter Goldie, The Emotions: A Philosophical Exploration
Amélie Rorty, ed. Explaining Emotions
(Additional readings to be found on the web or on UBLearns)
Carolyn Korsmeyer
110 Park Hall
645-0144 ckors@buffalo.edu
Description
What is an emotion? How do emotions relate to beliefs (that a food is taboo, for example); to physical reactions (rapid pulse); to moral character (capacity for sympathy); to relationships with others (family ties); to responses to art (enjoyment of horror films)? Do emotions vary with cultures, or are there universal human responses? Do nonhuman animals also have emotions like ours? These and other questions are addressed by the branch of philosophy known as emotion theory. This course will examine several contemporary philosophical approaches to emotions, referring from time to time to relevant philosophers of the past, and also to findings from the sciences that illuminate our affective lives.
The class will be small enough to run portions of it seminar-style. See note on “presentations” below.
Outcomes : The successful completion of this course should yield a greater understanding of the nature of emotions; enhanced skills of analysis; and improved expression of ideas.
Office hours: Mondays 9-10 am and Friday 2-3 pm and by appointment. I am best reached by
Requirements : e-mail.
1. Class attendance and participation.
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More than five unexcused absences will result in reduction of final mark.
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Missing more than half the classes will result in failure of the course, regardless of grades on written assignments.
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Classroom courtesy is expected; no texting or computer distractions; please turn off phones.
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Regular participation in discussion will raise your final grade by half a mark.
2. Written requirements:
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Two quizzes: 20 points each of final mark.
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Paper (8-10 pages): 40 points.
3. Group presentation: (20 points)
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The class will be divided into groups of 3-4 people for a presentation on one emotion, to be chosen by the members of the group.
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A presentation on that emotion to the class.
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A brief (one-page) written summary of the material presented from each participant.
4. Grade distribution: A=93-100, A-=90-92, B+=87-89, B=83-86, B-=80-82, C+=77-79, C=73-76,
C-=70-72, D+=67-69, D=63-66, D-=60-62, F=below 60.
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Schedule of readings and assignments
Oct. 1
Oct. 8
Oct. 15
Sept. 3
Sept. 10
Sept. 17
Sept. 24
Week of:
Aug. 27 Introduction
Philosophical tradition and the case against emotions:
Plato, The Republic IV: http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.html
Aristotle, Rhetoric.
Book II: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/rhetoric.2.ii.html
Seneca, “On Anger,” UBLearns.
Goldie, The Emotions , Chapter 1, Introduction (1-10)
Rorty, ed. Explaining Emotions, Introduction (1-8)
[no classes Monday]
Intentional objects and emotions:
Rorty, “Explaining Emotions,” in Rorty, ed. Explaining Emotions .
Goldie, Chapter 2 (11-28).
Subjectivity and Emotions
Goldie, Chapter 2 (28-49).
[no classes Monday]
Emotions and Feelings
Goldie, Chapter 3 (50-62).
William James, “What Is an Emotion?” (1884) UBLearns.
Prinz, “Embodied Emotions, “ UBLearns.
[no classes Wednesday]
Biology, the brain, evolution, and emotions
Charles Darwin, from The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals, UBLearns.
Ekman, “Biological and Cultural Contributions … in the Expression of Emotions,” in
Rorty.
Goldie, Chapter 4 (84-106)
Quiz: Wednesday, October 3
Biology and emotions, continued.
Emotions and Rationality
Greenspan, “A Case of Mixed Feelings…’ in Rorty.
De Sousa, “”The Rationality of Emotions,” in Rorty.
Martha Nussbaum, “Emotions as Judgments of Value and Importance,” UBLearns.
Goldie, Chapter 4 (106-122)
Friday, October 12: No class. Use the time to write up a proposal for studying your chosen emotion(s) (for presentation and paper).
Can we choose to have emotions?
Solomon, “Emotions and Choice,” in Rorty.
Wollheim, “On Persons and Their Lives,” in Rorty.
Spinoza, from Ethics , UBLearns.
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Oct. 22
Oct. 29
Nov. 5
Nov. 12
Nov. 19
Nov. 26
Dec. 3
Culture, Education, and Emotions
Goldie, Chapter 5 (123-140)
Averill, “Emotion and Anxiety…” in Rorty.
Scruton, “Emotion, Practical Knowledge and Common Culture,” in Rorty.
Friday, October 26: Meet independently in groups to work on presentations.
Emotion, Moods, and Character
Goldie, Chapter 6 (141-151)
De Sousa, “Self-Deceptive Emotions,” in Rorty.
Morton, “Emotions and Character,” in Rorty.
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book II: http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html
Understanding the Emotions of Others
Goldie, Chapter 7.
Quiz: Monday November 5.
The expression of emotions in art
Goldie, passim.
(Notice how often he illustrates a point with an example from literature.)
Jenefer Robinson, from Deeper than Reason, UBLearns.
Expression of emotion in art, continued.
[No classes Wednesday and Friday]
Attributing emotions to animals
John Deigh, “Primitive Emotions,” UBLearns
John Vaillant, from The Tiger , UBlearns.
T.R. Birkhead, from Bird Sense , UBLearns.
Group presentations : Note: it is important to attend all of these classes, even if your group is not presenting.
Paper due Friday, December 7.
[There is no final exam scheduled for this course.]
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