Emotions : an Essay in Aid of Moral Psychology

369 Pages·2003·3.31 MB·English

by  Robert Campbell Roberts

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Emotions
AnEssayinAidofMoralPsychology
Day-to-day life is a sequence of emotional states: hope, disappoint-
ment, irritation, anger, affection, envy, pride, embarrassment, joy,
sadness, and many more. We know intuitively that these states ex-
pressdeepthingsaboutourcharacterandourviewoftheworld.But
whatareemotions,andwhyaretheysoimportanttous?
In one of the most extensive investigations of the emotions ever
published, Robert C. Roberts develops a novel conception of what
emotionsareandthenappliesittoalargerangeoftypesofemotion
and related phenomena. In so doing, he lays the foundations for a
deeperunderstandingofourevaluativejudgments,ouractions,our
personalrelationships,andourfundamentalwell-being.
Aimedprincipallyatphilosophersandpsychologists,thisbookwill
certainlybeaccessibletoreadersinotherdisciplinessuchasreligion
andanthropology.
Robert C. Roberts is Distinguished Professor of Ethics at Baylor
University,Texas.

Emotions
An Essay in Aid of Moral Psychology
ROBERT C. ROBERTS
BaylorUniversity
  
Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo
Cambridge University Press
The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge  , United Kingdom
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York
www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521819787
© Robert C. Roberts 2003
This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provision of
relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place
without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published in print format 2003
- 
isbn-13 978-0-511-07008-2 eBook (EBL)
- 
isbn-10 0-511-07008-X eBook (EBL)
- 
isbn-13 978-0-521-81978-7 hardback
- 
isbn-10 0-521-81978-4 hardback
isbn--13 978-0-521-52584-8 paperback
- 
isbn-10 0-521-52584-5 paperback
Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of
s for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this book, and does not
guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
ThisbookisdedicatedtomydaughterBeffie

Contents
Acknowledgments pageix
1 StudyingEmotions 1
1.1. WhatThisBookIsAbout 1
1.2. TheSupposedPovertyofConceptualAnalysis 4
1.3. DeconstructingEmotionviatheHistoryofPhilosophy 6
1.4. DeconstructingEmotionviatheLifeSciences 14
1.5. ConceptualAnalysisofEmotions 36
2 TheNatureofEmotions 60
2.1. ADozenFacts 60
2.2. Feelings 65
2.3. Construals 69
2.4. Judgments 83
2.5. Propositions 106
2.6. Causes 132
2.7. Concerns 141
2.8. BodilyStates 151
2.9. Actions 157
2.10.Strength 176
3 TheVarietyofEmotions 180
3.1. Introduction 180
3.2. BadProspects 193
3.3. Offense 202
3.4. Fault 222
3.5. Defect 227
3.6. Loss 234
3.7. TheWeightofTime 247
3.8. Opposition 250
3.9. Rivalry 256
vii
viii Contents
3.10.Excellence 264
3.11. TheBeyond 269
3.12. EnhancementofSelf 274
3.13.Goodness 277
3.14.Prospects 281
3.15.TheBeloved 284
3.16.Disorientation 297
3.17.TraitsandEmotions 310
3.18.Conclusion 312
4 ThePlayofEmotionalFeelings 314
4.1. EmotionalError 314
4.2. EmotionsandFeelings 318
4.3. FeelingsasAwarenessofSelf 323
4.4. HowFalseFeelingsComeAbout 328
4.5. TruthCriteriaforFeelings 332
4.6. ResponsetoLiterature 343
4.7. EmotionalEducation 349
4.8. Conclusion 352
Index 353