Article ID: CBB074008360

Rethinking emotion as a natural kind: Correctives from Spinoza and hierarchical homology (2020)

unapi

It is commonly claimed that the folk category of emotion does not constitute a natural kind, due to the significant compositional differences between its members, especially basic and complex emotions. Arguably, however, this conclusion stems from the dualistic philosophical anthropology underlying the discussion, which presupposes a metaphysical “split” between mind and body. This is the case irrespective of whether a traditional or biological (homology-based) approach to natural kinds is adopted. Since the origins of this increasingly disputed anthropology can ultimately be traced to Descartes' substance dualism, its adverse effects can likewise be addressed using a contemporary theory of emotion developed from Spinoza, one of Descartes' earliest critics on this issue. Furthermore, a Spinozistic view of emotion accords with the recent shift to a hierarchical approach to homology, which recognises that the evolutionary lineage of complex biological units should be traced via relational qualities rather than physical characteristics. Both the Spinozistic approach to emotion and the hierarchical approach to homology show that the compositional variation in the folk category of emotion does not necessarily preclude it from constituting a natural kind.

...More
Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB074008360/

Similar Citations

Article Schickela, Joel A.; (2011)
Descartes on the Identity of Passion and Action (/isis/citation/CBB001211010/)

Article Bassiri, Nima; (2012)
Material Translations in the Cartesian Brain (/isis/citation/CBB001221608/)

Book Paolo Pecere; (2023)
La natura della mente. Da Cartesio alle scienze cognitive (/isis/citation/CBB751480142/)

Article Santucci, Antonio; (2000)
Francesco de Sarlo e le lettere filosofiche di un “superato” (/isis/citation/CBB000640753/)

Article Kirkebøen, Geir; (2001)
Descartes' Embodied Psychology: Descartes' or Damasio's Error? (/isis/citation/CBB000300809/)

Thesis Smith, Nathan D.; (2010)
The Origins of Descartes' Concept of Mind in the “Regulae ad directionem ingenii” (/isis/citation/CBB001567191/)

Chapter Meehan, William; (2014)
Return of the Repressed: Spinozan Ideas in the History of the Mind and Brain Sciences (/isis/citation/CBB001214137/)

Book Knuuttila, Simo; (2004)
Emotions in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (/isis/citation/CBB000471348/)

Article Hatfield, Gary; (2007)
Did Descartes Have a Jamesian Theory of the Emotions? (/isis/citation/CBB001035167/)

Book Lagerlund, Henrik; (2002)
Emotions and Choice from Boethius to Descartes (/isis/citation/CBB000301676/)

Book Alanen, Lilli; (2003)
Descartes's Concept of Mind (/isis/citation/CBB000640357/)

Book Landucci, Sergio; (2002)
La Mente in Cartesio (/isis/citation/CBB000301858/)

Article Kaitaro, Timo; (2004)
Brain--Mind Identities in Dualism and Materialism: A Historical Perspective (/isis/citation/CBB000501627/)

Article Jacqueline Broad; (2018)
Conway and Charleton on the Intimate Presence of Souls in Bodies (/isis/citation/CBB484625868/)

Article Gere, Cathy; (2004)
The Brain in a Vat (/isis/citation/CBB000501605/)

Article Slezak, Peter; (2012)
Mario Bunge's Materialist Theory of Mind and Contemporary Cognitive Science (/isis/citation/CBB001252230/)

Authors & Contributors
Richard Velkley
DeFranco, Daniel J.
Pecere, Paolo
Ryan, Ann Marie
Smith, Nathan D.
Sobol, Valeria
Concepts
Mind and body
Dualism
Philosophy of mind
Psychology
Philosophy
Emotions; passions
Time Periods
17th century
Early modern
20th century
19th century
16th century
Modern
Places
England
Naples (Italy)
Florence (Italy)
United States
Russia
France
Comments

Be the first to comment!

{{ comment.created_by.username }} on {{ comment.created_on | date:'medium' }}

Log in or register to comment