Understanding the Ethical Value of Emotions and their Role in Building a Just Society in the Writings of Martha Nussbaum (original) (raw)
Related papers
Martha C. Nussbaum's "Political Emotions": A Review Essay
Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 2014
On the whole, "Political Emotions" is a remarkably successful book that combines several areas of philosophical research in which the author’s proficiency is well known. It shows how problems that lie on the more intimate side of ethics, pertaining for instance to friendship and family life, have relevance for social justice and public culture; along the way, it also incorporates insightful readings of literary texts. Nussbaum’s book therefore ought to introduce readers of her work in one area (such as social philosophy) to aspects of her work in another (such as the philosophy of mind, or literary criticism). It explores the nature of human emotions, as they form early in life and develop in the context of personal relationships, in order to clarify some of the conditions of possibility for a just liberal democracy. "Political Emotions" asks: which emotions are essential for such a society to flourish, and which are apt to undermine its values and goals? In order to offer an account that can answer this question, Nussbaum draws upon her influential cognitive theory of emotion and, in the process, reformulates it in subtle yet significant ways.
Emotion, philosophical issues about
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science, 2015
We start this overview by discussing the place of emotions within the broader affective domain-how different are emotions from moods, sensations, and affective dispositions? Next, we examine the way emotions relate to their objects, emphasizing in the process their intimate relations to values. We move from this inquiry into the nature of emotion to an inquiry into their epistemology. Do they provide reasons for evaluative judgments and, more generally, do they contribute to our knowledge of values? We then address the question of the social dimension of emotions, explaining how the traditional nature versus nurture contrast applies to them. We finish by exploring the relations between emotions, motivation and action, concluding this overview with a more specific focus on how these relations bear on some central ethical issues.
2007
This paper is a discussion of Professor Nussbaum's theory of emotions in Upheavals of Thought. 1 This large volume testifies to Professor Nussbaum's impressively wide-ranging interests. It deals with a variety of topics including the philosophy and psychology of emotions, the nature of compassion and its role in social institutions, and the idea and history of love in literature and music. Here I shall focus only on issues surrounding the ontology of emotions. Nussbaum's theory of the emotions draws heavily on the Stoic account. In her theory, emotions are a kind of value judgment or thought. This is in stark contrast to the well-known proposal from William James, who took emotions to be bodily feelings. There are various motivations for taking emotions as
Emotions: Philosophical Issues About
WIREs Cognitive Science, 2015
We start this overview by discussing the place of emotions within the broader affective domain – how different are emotions from moods, sensations and affective dispositions? Next, we examine the way emotions relate to their objects, emphasizing in the process their intimate relations to values. We move from this inquiry into the nature of emotion to an inquiry into their epistemology. Do they provide reasons for evaluative judgements and, more generally, do they contribute to our knowledge of values? We then address the question of the social dimension of emotions, explaining how the traditional nature vs. nurture contrast applies to the emotions. We finish by exploring the relations between emotions, motivation and action, concluding this overview with a more specific focus on how these relations bear on some central ethical issues.
Ethics and the Emotions: An Introduction to the Special Issue
International Journal of Philosophical Studies, 2022
This introduction provides brief outlines of the articles collected in this special issue of the International Journal of Philosophical Studies on the topic of Ethics and Emotions. It also announces the winners of the 2021 Robert Papazian and PERITIA prizes.
Humanity in the Civic Education: Martha C. Nussbaum Perspectives on Emotion
Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Gender, Culture and Society, ICGCS 2021, 30-31 August 2021, Padang, Indonesia, 2022
Emotions is complex reaction pattern that influence by experiential, behavioral and physiological elements. Emotions response by behavior or attitude differ for everyone and that makes person as human. Emotions as the basis for humanity is important for Pancasila and civic education in Indonesia. The humanity perspectives in Pancasila stated in the second principle, just and civilized humanity. The implementations of humanism in Indonesian society are not fully articulated because rarely discussed. Some argumentations are stated that humanism is western oriented and can be conflict with first principle, the religious principle. Though the humanism is the universal principle and enables man to do good things in their wider social scope. The type of emotions, such as affection and compassion are formed in a growing period of time. The emotions do not require formal education but needs to be developed in the long term. Developing emotions must be seen as an entry point to makes good hu...
Martha Nussbaum and Max Scheler on emotions
2020
A comparison in the use of concepts by two philosophers. Intentionality, value, eudaimonia, emotion, compassion, love , appear to have all different meanings in the context of the frame of reference of Martha Nussbaum as compared to that of Max Scheler Main issues in the philosophy of emotion are at stake.
Martha Nussbaum’s Theory of Emotion and Death Issues
Proceedings of the International Conference on multidisciplinary Research, 2018
The aim of the article is exploring Martha Nussbaum's theory of emotions and their meaning in human life. Authors pay attention also to one of the most frequent emotions in Nussbaum's writings, to the fear of death. She explores the fear of death especially in her research of Hellenistic philosophy and ethics. Following this research, Nussbaum argues that the fear of death is understandable in case of premature death of young people. According to her, death is an interruption of human activities, for this reason, it is bad. Authors confirm that despite Nussbaum's little focus on the meaning and role of positive emotions in human development and human flourishing, her theory of emotions as one of the core capabilities is a very useful tool how to improve human life and to reach good life and well-being of human beings. It also concerns her view that philosophy can be like medical treatment very useful diminishing the fear of death.
Philosophy and the Emotions ROYAL INSTITUTE OF PHILOSOPHY SUPPLEMENT: 52 EDITED BY
ROYAL INSTITUTE OF PHILOSOPHY SUPPLEMENT: 52, 2003
Looking inside oneself for the springs of such passion might make a nice case of soul-searching, but is not necessarily the best means for advancing philosophical inquiry. The papers in this volume arise from an international symposium on emotions, and provide material for a continuing dialogue among researchers with different philosophical itineraries. Each essay addresses, in varying detail, the nature of emotions, their rationality, and their relation to value. Chapters I to VIII map the place of emotion in human nature, through a discussion of the intricate relation between consciousness and the body. Chapters IX to XI analyse the importance of emotion for human agency by pointing to the ways in which practical rationality may be enhanced, as well as hindered, by powerful or persistent emotions. Chapters XII to XIV explore questions of normativity and value in making sense of emotions at a personal, ethical, and political level.