Philosophy of Emotion
| Module title | Philosophy of Emotion |
|---|---|
| Module code | PHL2110 |
| Academic year | 2022/3 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Professor Giovanna Colombetti (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
Emotion is now a central topic in many areas of philosophy – from ethics, to aesthetics, to philosophy of mind and cognitive science. This is an in-depth module that addresses emotions primarily as mental states, and asks what kind of mental states emotions are. In the first half of the module we will discuss whether emotions are bodily or cognitive (or perhaps both), whether they are necessarily felt or can also be unconscious, and how they relate to moods. In the second half we will look at the debate between naturalistic and social constructionist accounts of emotions, and at a variety of other specific questions – such as: are emotions necessarily positive or negative? What kind of emotions do we experience when reading or watching fiction? Can emotions be “epistemic”? What is the relation between feelings, emotional expression, and language? Are there “aesthetic emotions”?
Module aims - intentions of the module
You will learn about somatic and cognitive theories of emotions, about accounts of emotions as unconscious mental states, and different views of the relation between emotions and moods. You will also learn about naturalistic and social constructionist accounts of the emotions, about different views on the “valence” of emotions, and about philosophical accounts of the relation between emotions, facial and bodily expressions, and language. Whereas the module will cover mainly philosophical theories of emotion, you will also learn about psychological and sociological accounts of the emotions. You will become familiar primarily with recent and contemporary works on these topics (form mid-nineteenth Century to current works).
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. illustrate a variety of philosophical accounts of the emotions;
- 2. identify specific philosophical problems in the study of emotion;
- 3. critically evaluate a variety of accounts of the nature of emotions;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. illustrate a variety of philosophical positions on a specific topic;
- 5. evaluate different philosophical positions orally and in writing;
- 6. distinguish between sound and unsound arguments;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. engage in complex arguments verbally as an individual and in small groups;
- 8. critically engage with and report accurately on existing written material.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover different philosophical theories of emotion, and focus on most of the following themes:
- Emotion and the Body
- Emotion and Cognition
- Emotion and Feeling
- Emotion and Expression
- Emotion and Reason
- Emotion and Mood
- Unconscious Emotions
- Positive and Negative Emotions
- Universal and Socially Constructed Emotions
- Emotion, Language and Narratives
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 44 | 22 x 2-hour lecture/discussion |
| Guided Independent Study | 65 | Assigned readings associated with each lecture |
| Guided Independent Study | 7 | Formative essay marking exercise |
| Guided Independent Study | 57 | Preparation for first assigned essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 57 | Preparation for second assigned essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 70 | Preparation for third assigned essay |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 take-home essays (past essays by former students, anonymised) to read, mark, and provide feedback on. | 7 hours | 5-8 | 1-hr class discussion, oral comments by lecturer. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 30 | 2,000 words | 1-8 | Written |
| Essay 2 | 30 | 2,000 words | 1-8 | Written |
| Essay 3 | 40 | 2, 500 words | 1-8 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay 3 | Essay (2,500 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic readings:
Deonna, J. & Teroni, F. (2012). The Emotions: A Philosophical Introduction. Oxford University Press.
Goldie, P. (2000). The Emotions: A Philosophical Exploration. Oxford University Press.
James, W. (1884). What is an emotion? Mind, 9, pp. 188-205.
Solomon, R. (2007). True to our Feelings: What our Emotions Are Really Telling Us. Oxford University Press.
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
Key words search
Philosophy; emotion; affect; body; mind; cognition
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | none |
| Module co-requisites | none |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 08/03/2016 |
| Last revision date | 26/01/2022 |
