Kant's theory of emotions.

Format:

Book

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Deimling, Wiebke.

Contributor:

Martin, Adrienne, committee member.

Detlefsen, Karen, committee member.

Guyer, J. Paul, advisor.

University of Pennsylvania. Philosophy.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Philosophy.

0422.

Penn dissertations--Philosophy.

Philosophy--Penn dissertations.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Philosophy.

Philosophy--Penn dissertations.

0422.

Physical Description:

229 pages

Contained In:

Dissertation Abstracts International 74-12A(E).

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

text file

Summary:

Immanuel Kant's philosophical framework poses question about his perspective on our emotional lives. What role do emotions play in Kant's philosophy? How can emotions play a positive role in an account that is focused on pure (practical) reason? On Kant's account, how should we respond to the emotions of ourselves and others? These questions are more easily answered once we answer a more fundamental question. Namely, what are emotions for Kant? This dissertation gives a reading of Kant's theory of emotions and of affective states in general. I show that he has a philosophically and psychologically rich account. To lay out his theory this dissertation mainly draws on his anthropological works. The main results I reach can be summed up as follows:

1) This dissertation analyzes the different terms Kant uses for affective states and provides a taxonomy. This helps us understand what exactly Kant claims about our emotional responses in different contexts. 2) I argue that even though Kant does not use the term "emotion", there is a concept implicit in his project of an anthropology "from a pragmatic point of view". I show that this concept maps closely onto our contemporary concepts of emotions. What I call "Kant's pragmatic concept of emotions" subsumes states that are especially important for us to consider when deciding how to act. 3) I show that a theory of emotions as we find it in Kant's anthropology would take up an interesting place if we were to locate it among contemporary theories.

Notes:

Thesis (Ph.D. in Philosophy) -- University of Pennsylvania, 2013.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 74-12(E), Section: A.

Adviser: Paul Guyer.

Local Notes:

School code: 0175.

ISBN:

9781303343629

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.