Martha Nussbaum advocates a cognitive theory of the emotions, where the central doctrine of such cognitivism is that emotions have propositional content. According to Nussbaum, human emotions are rational in a descriptive sense, i.e., bound up in reason. (Emotions can be irrational –based on error – but not non-rational.) Nussbaum, accepting a neo-Stoic account, holds that emotions are value judgments about external objects. On this account, emotional conflict is oscillation between beliefs. Some-one in emotional conflict is not divided against herself, with different parts of her fighting for dominance, but is in a dynamic state in which her reasoning processes alter her emotions as each appearance or belief is considered.
What if Kant Had Had a Cognitive Theory of the Emotions?
What if Kant Had Had a Cognitive Theory of the Emotions?
Recent Publications
- “Equal Opportunity, Not Reparations” in the Handbook of Equality of Opportunity (2024)
- “A Bayesian Solution to Hallsson’s Puzzle”
- Markets without Limits: Moral Virtues and Commercial Interests, 2nd Edition
- “Optimizing political influence: a jury theorem with dynamic competence and dependence”
- Why not anarchism?
Recent News
- Advocacy group concerned pay-for-plasma clinics expanding to Ontario will hurt voluntary donations
- Jason Brennan and Hélène Landemore, Debating Democracy (University of Zurich’s UBS Center, 2024)
- Jason Brennan “Everything Wrong with Democracy” on the Alex O’Connor Podcast (January 28, 2024)
- On the affirmative action ruling, the Supreme Court got it half right
- Is the effective altruism movement in trouble?