The Emotions: A Philosophical Introduction

The emotions occupy a central place in human life. At the same time, they present deep philosophical problems that have preoccupied philosophers such as Aristotle, David Hume and William James. Are emotions feelings, thoughts, or experiences? If they are experiences, what are they experiences of? Are emotions rational? Is there a science of the emotions? The Emotions: A Philosophical Introductionintroduces and explores these questions and more in a clear and accessible way. The authors discuss the following key topics: The diversity and unity of the emotions Emotion, belief and desire Emotions as value judgments Perceptual theories of the emotions The attitudinal theory of the emotions Emotions and their justification The nature and role of affective explanations. Including chapter summaries and guides to further reading, The Emotions: A Philosophical Introductionis an ideal starting point for any philosopher or student studying the emotions. It will also be of interest to those in related disciplines such as psychology and political theory.