Andrea Scarantino, "Emotion Theory: The Routledge Comprehensive Guide" (Routledge, 2024)
Dec 10, 2024
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Andrea Scarantino, a Professor of Philosophy at Georgia State University, discusses his role as the editor of the impressive two-volume work on emotion theory. He dives into the interdisciplinary nature of emotions, showcasing contributions from 101 theorists across various fields. Scarantino explores the historical evolution of emotion theory, complexities between naturalistic and humanistic approaches, and the cultural nuances of emotions. He emphasizes the importance of understanding specific emotions like anger and depression in a broader philosophical context.
The edited collection 'Emotion Theory: The Routledge Comprehensive Guide' compiles interdisciplinary insights from over 100 theorists, providing a comprehensive overview of emotion research.
A historical overview of emotion theory highlights its evolution over 25 centuries and emphasizes the contextual importance of historical perspectives in contemporary understandings.
The collection delineates three main approaches to emotion classification, fostering clearer definitions that bridge the gaps across disciplines and cultural interpretations.
Deep dives
The Significance of Emotion Theory
Emotion theory is a complex interdisciplinary field that seeks to understand the nature and function of emotions through various lenses including philosophy, psychology, and biology. A recent two-volume collection compiles insights from over 100 theorists, providing a comprehensive look at different perspectives on what constitutes emotion. The collection emphasizes the importance of integrating ideas from these distinct disciplines, as many traditional theories of emotion lack consensus and fail to engage in productive dialogue. This collaborative effort aims to bridge gaps and offer a cohesive understanding of emotions that reflects both historical and contemporary viewpoints.
Historical Foundations of Emotion Theory
The historical overview of emotion theory spans 25 centuries, beginning with ancient Greece and continuing through various cultural interpretations of emotions. The first volume of the collection presents a thorough analysis of how emotions were conceptualized across different eras and cultures, including perspectives from ancient and classical India and medieval China. The authors emphasize that understanding the historical context is crucial for grasping contemporary theories. The period ending in the 1950s marks a significant shift, with key theories emerging that continue to influence modern psychological frameworks.
Contemporary Theories and Their Divergences
The current landscape of emotion theory reveals three main approaches: the natural kind, the normative kind, and a third that combines elements of both. The natural kind approach seeks to categorize emotions based on physiological underpinnings, while the normative kind focuses on the social implications of emotions. Researchers have noted a lack of clarity in definitions, often leading to miscommunication across disciplines. By delineating these approaches, the collection encourages a clearer understanding of emotions that considers both biological and cultural factors.
Insights from Emotional Research
The collection outlines 35 distinct emotions, each with a dedicated chapter discussing its definition, manifestations, and functions. A key aspect is the identification of how these emotional states operate within a framework of cognitive and behavioral patterns, challenging the notion of any single signature for emotions. Moreover, the work highlights that most emotions serve important functions in human behavior, ranging from social bonding to decision-making. This framework allows for a nuanced understanding of the role emotions play in daily life and their potential impact on well-being.
Future Directions in Emotion Research
As the field of emotion theory evolves, researchers are encouraged to explore new dimensions of emotional understanding, particularly in terms of motivation and communication. The continuous integration of insights from various disciplines underscores the need for a unified yet diverse approach to studying emotions. Additionally, the complexity of emotions, characterized by their multifaceted nature, invites further inquiry into how societal norms influence emotional expressions. By recognizing the rich tapestry of emotion theory, future research can address underlying challenges and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
This interview is an exception to our “single author monographs” rule, because the edited collection that is its topic is an intellectual achievement worth making an exception for in over 12 years of New Books in Philosophy podcasts. Emotion Theory: The Routledge Comprehensive Guide: Volume I and Volume II (Routledge, 2024) is a two-volume compendium of 62 chapters on emotion theory written by 101 leading theorists from philosophy, psychology, biology, sociology, neuroscience, and other fields, all grappling with the question: What is an emotion? Editor Andrea Scarantino, who is a professor of philosophy at George State University, has compiled a synoptic and thematically organized collection that covers the history of emotion theory, the main contemporary theories of emotions, individual chapters on 35 distinct emotions, and more. The volumes bring together theorists from distinct disciplines that don’t normally engage with each others’ work, and provide readers with a one-stop-shop for clearly written introductions to the current states of play in emotion research.
Andrea Scarantino is Professor of Philosophy at Georgia State University, where he has taught since 2005.
Carrie Figdor is professor of philosophy at the University of Iowa.