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The Unavoidable Intentionality of Affect: The History of Emotions and the Neurosciences of the Present Day

Publication ,  Journal Article
Reddy, WM
Published in: Emotion Review
July 1, 2020

The “problem of emotions,” that is, that many of them are both meaningful and corporeal, has yet to be resolved. Western thinkers, from Augustine to Descartes to Zajonc, have handled this problem by employing various forms of mind–body dualism. Some psychologists and neuroscientists since the 1970s have avoided it by talking about cognitive and emotional “processing,” using a terminology borrowed from computer science that nullifies the meaningful or intentional character of both thought and emotion. Outside the Western-influenced contexts, emotion and thought are not seen as distinct kinds of things. Here a solution of sorts is proposed by thinking of emotional expression as a dynamic activity that declares and stirs emotions at the same time. As such, its dynamism may help historians to understand the dramatic changes and trends they investigate.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Emotion Review

DOI

EISSN

1754-0747

ISSN

1754-0739

Publication Date

July 1, 2020

Volume

12

Issue

3

Start / End Page

168 / 178

Related Subject Headings

  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Reddy, W. M. (2020). The Unavoidable Intentionality of Affect: The History of Emotions and the Neurosciences of the Present Day. Emotion Review, 12(3), 168–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073920930781
Reddy, W. M. “The Unavoidable Intentionality of Affect: The History of Emotions and the Neurosciences of the Present Day.” Emotion Review 12, no. 3 (July 1, 2020): 168–78. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073920930781.
Reddy, W. M. “The Unavoidable Intentionality of Affect: The History of Emotions and the Neurosciences of the Present Day.” Emotion Review, vol. 12, no. 3, July 2020, pp. 168–78. Scopus, doi:10.1177/1754073920930781.
Journal cover image

Published In

Emotion Review

DOI

EISSN

1754-0747

ISSN

1754-0739

Publication Date

July 1, 2020

Volume

12

Issue

3

Start / End Page

168 / 178

Related Subject Headings

  • 2203 Philosophy
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology