Overview

In recent decades, the philosophy of emotions has emerged as a legitimate field of study. Esteemed philosopher Robert C. Solomon presents 24 lectures that explore the complex nature of emotions, which he argues are “the key to the meaning of life.” This course challenges the conventional wisdom that distinguishes emotion from reason, suggesting instead that emotions are intelligent and crucial to our daily experiences.

Through engaging dialogues with historical figures like Plato, Aristotle, and Nietzsche, these lectures will lead you to consider questions such as: What is the difference between emotions and feelings? How do emotions guide our lives? Are emotions universal or learned? Prepare for a stimulating journey into the intricate world of human emotions.

Video Lessons

01: Emotions as Engagements with the World

Review the history of thinking about emotions and introduce the major themes of the course.

Length: 32 min

02: The Wrath of Achilles

Explore anger through the story of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad, examining its positive aspects alongside its dangers.

Length: 31 min

03: It’s Good to Be Afraid

Investigate the importance of fear as a protective emotion and its intriguing paradoxes.

Length: 33 min

04: Lessons of Love – Plato’s Symposium

Focus on the emotion of love as illustrated in Plato’s Symposium, showing love’s transformative effects.

Length: 34 min

05: We Are Not Alone – Compassion and Empathy

Discuss the role of sympathy in philosophy and ethics, traced through thinkers like Hume, Rousseau, and Smith.

Length: 34 min

06: Noble? or Deadly Sin? Pride and Shame

Examine social emotions like pride and shame and their shifting roles in society over time.

Length: 30 min

07: Nasty – Iago’s Envy, Othello’s Jealousy

Investigate envy and jealousy as destructive emotions depicted in Shakespeare’s Othello.

Length: 31 min

08: Nastier – Resentment and Vengeance

Analyze resentment as an emotion linked to vengeance, exploring its roots and consequences.

Length: 31 min

09: A Death in the Family – The Logic of Grief

Reframe grief as a continuation of love and a process of self-reflection rather than pure negativity.

Length: 31 min

10: James and the Bear – Emotions and Feelings

Challenge the view that emotions are merely feelings by exploring their deeper significance.

Length: 31 min

11: Freud’s Catharsis – the Hydraulic Model

Critically examine Freud’s hydraulic model and its limitations in conceptualizing human emotions.

Length: 29 min

12: Are Emotions “in” the Mind?

Explore the philosophical debate around emotions, considering the mind as a dynamic rather than a static entity.

Length: 31 min

13: How Emotions Are Intelligent

Discuss how emotions provide intelligence about our relationships and environments, offering insights into human behavior.

Length: 31 min

14: Emotions as Judgments

Understand emotions through the judgments that shape them, examining common forms such as anger and love.

Length: 31 min

15: Beyond Boohoo and Hooray

Reassess positive and negative emotions, urging a more nuanced understanding of emotional intelligence.

Length: 31 min

16: Emotions Are Rational

Delve into the concept of rational emotions, arguing that emotions can align with our goals and realities.

Length: 31 min

17: Emotions and Responsibility

Explore the extent to which individuals are responsible for their emotional strategies and reactions.

Length: 32 min

18: Emotions in Ethics

Survey the historical context of emotions in ethics, from Aristotle to 20th-century emotivism.

Length: 33 min

19: Emotions and the Self

Analyze the self-involvement inherent in emotions and their connection to personal identity and consciousness.

Length: 31 min

20: What Is Emotional Experience?

Dissect emotional experience as more than physiological symptoms, discussing its many intricacies.

Length: 32 min

21: Emotions across Cultures – Universals

Examine the underlying similarities in emotions despite cultural differences, exploring biological commonalities.

Length: 31 min

22: Emotions across Cultures – Differences

Focus on significant differences in emotions, including examples unknown to Westerners, like amae and fago.

Length: 30 min

23: Laughter and Music

Investigate laughter and music as universal emotional expressions and their roles in human emotion.

Length: 28 min

24: Happiness and Spirituality

Conclude with the idea of emotions and rationality as inseparable forces in achieving human happiness and spirituality.

Length: 32 min