This course examines the role emotions play in our lives and critically examines some traditional beliefs about emotion from the standpoints of philosophy, psychology and sociology. Some of the issues considered include the relation of emotions to perception and action, the relation of emotions to reason, the role of feeling in moral judgement, and the role of emotions in understanding art. We will also consider specific emotions, such as love or jealousy, and look at the ideology or social function of those emotions. Finally, we will consider emotions from a biological view, as either adaptive responses, or forms of escape.
Prerequisite: Second year standing