Overthink Dark Moods with Mariana Alessandri
Jan 14, 2025
Mariana Alessandri, an Associate Professor of Philosophy specializing in existentialism and Latina feminist thought, explores the significance of 'dark moods' and their essential role in the human experience. She discusses how societal obsession with positivity can harm emotional health and critiques the stigma surrounding grief and sadness. Mariana emphasizes the importance of embracing negative emotions and challenges the medical field's rigid perceptions of grief. Her insights encourage a more compassionate understanding of emotional struggles.
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Anzaldua's Early Affinity for Philosophy
- Gloria Anzaldua, a Chicana feminist philosopher, carried philosophy books as a girl.
- She connected with Kierkegaard's work, finding solace in his exploration of despair.
Philosophers and Dark Emotions
- Philosophers like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and James explored dark emotions in their works.
- William James even integrated his experience with depression into his understanding of the psyche, referring to himself as a 'sick soul'.
Dark Moods, Not Bad Moods
- Mariana Alessandri views dark moods like depression and anxiety as dark, but not inherently bad.
- She emphasizes the resources offered by women of color philosophers in understanding these moods.
