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Core modules and Options at Level 10

PHI9MB Emotions, Rationality and Knowledge

The module will focus on the emotions as a topic in epistemology and the philosophy of mind. It will be divided into the following parts:

 

(1)     Emotions and thought

What kind of states are emotions? How do they link with thought? How may they be evaluated?

(2)     Reason and the emotions

Standard conceptions of the explanation of thought and action focus on beliefs and desires and, perhaps, intentions. We shall consider the role that emotions play in explaining what people do and think, the extent to which emotions are subject to rational control, and whether emotions have a role in furnishing us with reasons for action.

(3)     Emotions in relation to knowledge and understanding of others and of ourselves

Emotions, like other features of our mental life are often thought to be essentially hidden behind the veil constituted by our bodies and behaviour. We shall consider whether perceptual knowledge can include knowledge of the emotions of others, and examine the role of imagination in understanding others. The implications for the epistemological problem of other minds will be considered. We shall also consider how we know about our own emotions and what that can tell us more generally about ourselves.

(4)     Morality, values and emotions

There is a long tradition of thinking of morality and matters of value as being rooted more in feeling than reason. We shall examine some strands of thought in this tradition. We shall also consider whether emotions can have a role, not only in shaping what we value, but in grounding our values.

 

Reading

The set readings will be from historical and more recent sources. Many of these are contained in:

Robert C. Solomon (ed.)         What is an Emotion: Classic and Contemporary Readings (Second Edition) (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003

 

Availability:	Honours semester 6/8, BA in Philosophy or the General degree
Prerequisite:	PHI9CA or PHI9CB
Assessment:	Coursework (one required essay) 50%; examination (3 questions in 3 hours) 50%. Students may choose to submit a second essay to improve their coursework grade.
Teaching Pattern:	Each week there will be two one-hour lectures and one one-hour seminar
Regulation:	For the purposes of the University’s attendance regulation 14, lectures and seminars are prescribed classes. The rationale for prescribing these classes may be found in the Philosophy Student Handbook, section F. This section also contains regulations relating to the submission of essays, and other matters.

 

If you would like to know more about this module please contact Alan Millar.