Compassion and Tragedy in the Aspiring Society (original) (raw)
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Review of Martha C. Nussbaum's "Political Emotions: Why Love Matters for Justice."
Nussbaum engages core questions about the relationship between political stability and moral psychology (or, the emotions). Rawls considers these questions in the final section of TJ (entitled "Ends"), but never revisited them in the light of his later ideas of political liberalism. Nussbaum thus proposes a theory of political love (and its affiliated emotions) that addresses these questions in a manner consistent with the spirit of political liberalism, and so in a way that Rawls himself might have wanted. Before directly engaging some of Nussbaum's ideas, I provide a brief overview of the philosophical context for her book and of its content.
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.
2022
Emotions are part of humanity, a part of man’s nature and his natural responses to his experiences. They, as an aspect of mental life, have significance to the quality and meaning of man’s existence. They are inevitable parts of human nature and play roles in one’s life for they can influence one’s actions and overall well-being. As far as humanity is concerned, emotions can also take roles in building a society, imperfect yet aims to be good and just. Living in a society full of emotions, the researcher observes how emotions took part in some of the events in his country- the pandemic, politics and social structures. He, then, explores the ethical value of emotions and their role in building a just society in the compelling works of an American philosopher, renowned for her works about emotions, Martha Nussbaum. Nussbaum puts emotion central to moral and political philosophy. For her, emotional development is part of man’s reasoning capacity as moral and political creatures.This emphasizes that the values of emotions need serious contemplation in developing and building a society that is good and just, a necessary element for a complete human life. Her theory of emotions serves as a fresh reminder that emotions are not merely psychological faculties but essential elements of reason that has essential roles in one’s social, moral, and political living.
Can Institutions Be Compassionate? On Martha C. Nussbaum’s Theory of Political Compassion
Journal of Psychology Research, 2018
Martha C. Nussbaum develops an idea of political compassion based on her cognitive theory of emotions and her normative theory of human development: the capabilities approach. She conceives compassion as a set of value judgements in the three areas: seriousness of loss, responsibility, and concern of others. Pointing out the possibility of rational examination of those three judgements, Nussbaum claims compassion to be a reasonable emotion. This gives way to understand compassion not only as a personal emotion but also as an institutional principle. The capability approach provides rational guidance in the three crucial areas of assessment. In virtue of this normative theory, Nussbaum discusses and rejects the ethical tradition of neglecting external goods as unimportant for human flourishing. Nussbaum argues that individual impulses of compassion that lead us to take care of material needs of others can be based on theoretical principles and inform institutions and political goals.