Philosophy of Emotion
| Module title | Philosophy of Emotion |
|---|---|
| Module code | PHL3060 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Giovanna Colombetti (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
Emotion is now a central topic in many areas of philosophy (e.g. philosophy of mind, ethics, aesthetics). This module explores what kind of mental states emotions are. It addresses the following questions: Are emotions bodily sensations? How do they relate to cognition? Are emotions necessarily felt, or can they be unconscious? And what is the relation between emotions, moods, and other types of affective states? The module presents some of the answers that contemporary philosophers have provided, with some excursions into physiology and psychology.
There are no prerequisites for taking this module.
Module aims - intentions of the module
You will learn about the most influential contemporary philosophical accounts of the emotions, such as feeling theories and cognitive theories. You will also learn about different philosophical accounts of emotions, moods, and other affective states. Whereas the module will cover mainly philosophical theories of emotion, you will also learn about psychological studies of emotion.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Systematically illustrate a variety of philosophical accounts of the emotions;
- 2. Identify specific philosophical problems in the study of emotion;
- 3. Critically evaluate a variety of accounts of the nature of emotions whilst developing your own perspective;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Systematically illustrate a variety of philosophical positions on a specific topic;
- 5. Evaluate, orally and in writing, different philosophical positions;
- 6. Distinguish between sound and unsound arguments, and develop philosophically informed considerations about them;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Engage in complex arguments verbally as an individual and in small groups;
- 8. Critically engage with and report accurately on existing written material.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover different philosophical theories of emotion, and focus on the relationship between the following phenomena:
-Emotion and the Body
-Emotion and Cognition
-Emotion and Feeling
-Emotion and Mood
-Emotion and Consciousness
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 22 | 11 x 2-hour lecture/discussion |
| Guided Independent Study | 33 | Assigned readings associated with each lecture |
| Guided Independent Study | 5 | Formative essay marking exercise |
| Guided Independent Study | 45 | Preparation for first assigned essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 45 | Preparation for second assigned essay |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 take-home essays (past essays by former students, anonymised) to read, mark, and provide feedback on. | 3 hours | 5-8 | 2-hour class discussion, oral comments by lecturer. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 50 | 1500 words | 1-8 | Written |
| Essay 2 | 50 | 1500 words | 1-8 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | Essay (1500 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | Essay (1500 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Campeggiani, P. (2022). Theories of Emotion: Expressing, Feeling, Acting. Bloomsbury.
- Deonna, J. & Teroni, F. (2012). The Emotions: A Philosophical Introduction . Oxford University Press.
- James, W. (1884). What is an emotion? Mind, 9 , pp. 188-205.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/emotion/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 15/12/2014 |
| Last revision date | 17/02/23 |
