Emotion and value I
HUM-478 / 3 credits
Teacher: Deonna Julien Amos
Language: English
Remark: Une seule inscription à un cours SHS+MGT autorisée. En cas d'inscriptions multiples elles seront toutes supprimées sans notification.
Summary
We are urged to live emotionally rich and fulfilling lives, but the meaning of this injunction is often mysterious or even suspect. This course addresses, from a philosophical perspective and in a cool and systematic manner, the role emotions play in our epistemic, ethical and aesthetical lives.
Content
The course explores the most important philosophical issues in which emotions play a central role. Its starts by situating emotions within the broader affective domain. Next, focus is put on the privileged link emotions have with evaluations and values more generally such as the one existing between sadness and loss, anger and injustice, admiration and excellence. Bringing to light this link to values then allows for the exploration of number key roles emotions play in our individual and collective lives. These include the way they support our reasoning capacities, sustain our epistemic competences, the manner in which they invite themselves in every aspect of ethical interactions, contributing to drive public policy, or the appreciation of the arts. In the course of the MA, we shall debate some of the following questions: What role emotions play in memory, imagination, attention, and empathy? What influence does love, shame, outrage or compassion have on our moral lives? Can unpleasant emotions like shame, anxiety or hatred contribute to a happy life? What is the place of affectivity in the constitution of the self? Does our understanding of concepts of value like injustice, loss, excellence or the sublime require the refining of our emotional sensitivities? Could robots feel anything? Why do we consume works of art that we know will arouse unpleasant emotions in us? Does resentment play a role in affirming certain political ideals, such as egalitarianism? Can states play on the emotions of their citizens for the pursuit of public policies of general interest?
Keywords
Philosophy of mind; emotion ; affect ; value ; valence ; norms ; moral emotions ; moral psychology ; emotion vs. reason ; emotional motivation ; Emotional consciousness ; emotion and decision making ; emotion and wellbeing ; emotion and justice ; artificial emotions ; art appreciation ; shame ; admiration ; envy ; indignation ; hope ; disgust ; amusement ; sadness ; happiness
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Understand the distinctiveness of philosophical questions and problems in the philosophy of emotions and moral psychology more generally.
- Distinguish between philosophical and empirical argumentative strategies in the relevant field.
- Distinguish between philosophical and empirical argumentative strategies in the relevant field.
- Autonomously analyse philosophical texts in the field.
- Produce arguments and claims orally and in written form in the field.
- Develop specific examples to illustrate philosophical ideas in the field.
- Critique the arguments and claims of others (students/teacher) in the field.
- Structuring a philosophical discussion in the field.
- Establish a bibliography for a definite question/problem in the field
- Create and deliver a quality talk to a general audience
Teaching methods
Semester 1 : Lectures (hours 1 and 2) + elaboration of a plan for semester 2 project (Hour 3)
Semester 2 : Group work resulting in project consisting in (a) an essay and (b) a presentation to peers.
Expected student activities
Semester 1 : Reading assignment, lecture attendance and participation (Hour 1 and 2), supervised group work (Hour 3)
Assessment methods
Semester 1 : End of semester examination on the content of the course (60%) and plan of project for Semester 2 (40%).
Supervision
| Office hours | No |
| Assistants | No |
| Forum | No |
| Others | Schedule of supervision will be handed out at the beginning of Semester 1. Contact through email. |
Resources
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
No
Bibliography
General bibliography:
- TIBERIUS, V. (2014), Moral Psychology. A Contemporary Introduction. New York: Routledge.
- DEONNA J. & F. TERONI (2012). The Emotions : a philosophical Introduction, Routledge.
- DEONNA, J., TAPPOLET, Ch. & TERONI, F. (2015) "Emotions: Philosophical Issues About" WIREs Cognitive Science.
- DEONNA, J. A., RODOGNO, R., & TERONI, F. (2011). In defense of shame: The faces of an emotion. Oxford University Press.
- PRINZ, J. (2004). Gut Reactions: A Perceptual Theory of Emotion, Oxford UP.
- ROBERTS, R. (2003). Emotions: An Essay in Aid of Moral Psychology, Cambridge UP.
Moodle ressources :
- Powerpoint slides (basis for Semester 1 examination)
- Selection of scholarly articles on specific topics (basis for Semester 2 projects)
Ressources en bibliothèque
- TIBERIUS, V. (2014), Moral Psychology. A Contemporary Introduction
- DEONNA J. & F. TERONI (2012). The Emotions : a philosophical Introduction
- DEONNA, J., TAPPOLET, Ch. & TERONI, F. (2015) "Emotions: Philosophical Issues About"
- DEONNA, J. A., RODOGNO, R., & TERONI, F. (2011). In defense of shame: The faces of an emotion
- PRINZ, J. (2004). Gut Reactions: A Perceptual Theory of Emotion
- ROBERTS, R. (2003). Emotions: An Essay in Aid of Moral Psychology
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Semester: Fall
- Number of places: 70
- Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
- Subject examined: Emotion and value I
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Project: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
Reference week
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | |
| 8-9 | |||||
| 9-10 | |||||
| 10-11 | |||||
| 11-12 | |||||
| 12-13 | |||||
| 13-14 | |||||
| 14-15 | |||||
| 15-16 | |||||
| 16-17 | |||||
| 17-18 | |||||
| 18-19 | |||||
| 19-20 | |||||
| 20-21 | |||||
| 21-22 |
Légendes:
Lecture
Exercise, TP
Project, other