Emotions: a Philosophical Introduction

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/emotions

Introduction

**Course Review: Emotions: A Philosophical Introduction on Coursera** In a world increasingly dominated by technology and scientific rationalism, the course "Emotions: A Philosophical Introduction," offered on Coursera, provides a refreshing exploration into the profound yet often overlooked realm of human emotions. This six-week course is an intellectual journey that not only examines the nature of emotions but also poses compelling philosophical questions about their origins, implications, and presence across various life forms. ### Overview The course cleverly begins with an intriguing analogy: “Philosophy is like sex: sure you can get some interesting results, but that's not why we do it.” This introduction sets the tone for a thought-provoking discussion, urging participants to delve deeper into why we feel pain and pleasure, whether plants can experience emotions, and why emotional understanding varies among individuals. It's this blend of curiosity and critical examination that makes the course not just informative, but also a source of lively debate and self-reflection. ### Syllabus Insight The syllabus is designed to guide learners through a progressive understanding of emotions, anchored in philosophical inquiry. Here’s a detailed breakdown: 1. **Welcome!** - The course kicks off with an engaging introduction that establishes the omnipresence of emotions in our lives and the importance of examining them from various angles. 2. **Where do emotions come from?** - Early lessons help define emotions and introduce fundamental philosophical concepts, anchoring participants in a solid foundation for subsequent discussions. 3. **How many emotions exist?** - This section ignites a fascinating discussion on the theories surrounding the number and types of emotions. This exploratory approach fosters a lively debate about the evolution and projection of emotions across different species. 4. **What does a plant feel?** - Here, the curriculum expands the emotional landscape beyond humans and mammals to include plants and bacteria, posing the engaging question of emotional capacity across all living forms. 5. **A neuroanthropological approach to emotions: from neurons to societies** - This segment draws connections between emotions and societal cohesion, emphasizing the neurological underpinnings that facilitate altruism and cooperation in human societies. 6. **The philosophies on emotions** - A historical examination of how various philosophies from both Western and Eastern traditions have perceived emotions, often casting them as negative forces. This part of the course stimulates critical thinking about prevailing cultural attitudes towards our emotional lives. 7. **21st Century & emotions: Affective computing and sociable robots** - The course concludes by exploring the intersection of emotions and technology, including discussions on emotional expressions in social media and the development of empathetic machines. This forward-thinking approach connects traditional philosophical debates with contemporary technological advancements. ### Recommendation I highly recommend "Emotions: A Philosophical Introduction" for anyone interested in psychology, philosophy, or the intersection between emotion and technology. Whether you are a curious learner, a seasoned philosopher, or a tech enthusiast, this course offers a unique and enriching perspective on a fundamental aspect of human experience. The engaging structure, coupled with thought-provoking content, ensures that you will not only gain new knowledge but also challenge your existing beliefs about emotions and their role in both personal and societal contexts. With a format that's accessible and intellectually stimulating, this course is a must-take on Coursera. Embrace the exploration of emotions; it might just change how you engage with the world around you.

Syllabus

Welcome!

Welcome to this amazing course on the nature of emotions. You’ll see that emotions are everywhere. They are the true meaning of our lives and guide us all throughout our daily actions. There is a lot to discuss, to think about, to discover about them! Six weeks for a Course, one Course for new Knowledge!

At the very beginning of this course we will look at the basic definitions and concepts related to the emotional events. At the same time we will introduce basic philosophical ideas in order to make possible the understanding of the nature of emotional values.

After the clarification about the different aspects we can find in emotional analysis, we will look at the number and type of different emotions. There are several theories about their number, and all of them also contain a way to understand how emotions emerged and evolved. The debate will be fun!

Not only humans do have emotions. Other mammals have also them. And even insects. But do plants have emotions? Even bacteria, a so small entity, have also these emotional mechanisms. An evolutionary reconstruction will understand to understand how emotions are spread among living entities.

Emotions regulate several key aspects of our life. But they are fundamental for social cohesion. Cooperation or altruism are fundamental aspects of human socialization that must be understood from an emotional perspective. Neurons will show the path to the creation of societies.

There are plenty of historical debates on the nature and role of emotions into philosophical spaces. Usually, this approach is made studying at Western thinkers, but we will also include Eastern ones. Therefore, we will analyse how most important philosophical traditions have understood and explain the role of emotions. [Spoiler: they always said they were BAD!].

At the end of this course we will look on how emotions are displayed into new technological frameworks: social networks, mass media,…but we will think about how emotions are implemented into robots or computers. A new technological era come to us, with the same necessities of all previous ones: emotional. Machines will be emotional, if we want they be really smart, autonomous, and efficient.