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Single Idea 23940

[filed under theme 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / c. Role of emotions ]

Full Idea

Every emotion is a strategy, a purposive attempt to structure our world in such a way as to maximise our sense of personal dignity and self-esteem.

Gist of Idea

Emotions are strategies for maximising our sense of dignity and self-esteem

Source

Robert C. Solomon (The Passions [1976], Pref)

Book Ref

Solomon,Robert C.: 'The Passions (1993 ed)' [Hackett 1993], p.-7

A Reaction

This is the main thesis of Solomon's book. There doesn't seem to be much to admire in what he takes to be our chief motivation. I would put a much more social spin on it - that our underlying urge is not self-promotion, but to fit into a community.

Related Idea

Idea 23946 The passions are subjective, concerning what is important to me, rather than facts [Solomon]

The 26 ideas from Robert C. Solomon

23942 Philosophy is creating an intellectual conceptual structure for life [Solomon]
23943 Distinguishing reason from passion is based on an archaic 'faculty' theory [Solomon]
23945 Reason is actually passions, guided by perspicacious reflection [Solomon]
23944 Emotions are our life force, and the source of most of our values [Solomon]
23946 The passions are subjective, concerning what is important to me, rather than facts [Solomon]
23940 Emotions are strategies for maximising our sense of dignity and self-esteem [Solomon]
23936 It is only our passions which give our lives meaning [Solomon]
23937 It is reason which needs the anchorage of passions, rather than vice versa [Solomon]
23941 'Absurdity' is just the result of our wrong choices in life [Solomon]
23947 Dividing ourselves into confrontational reason and passion destroys our harmonious whole [Solomon]
23949 Passions exist as emotions, moods and desires, which all generate meaning [Solomon]
23948 Wisdom needs both thought and passion, with each reflecting on the other [Solomon]
23952 I say bodily chemistry and its sensations have nothing to do with emotions [Solomon]
23953 Feeling is a superficial aspect of emotion, and may be indeterminate, or even absent [Solomon]
23954 Emotions are judgements about ourselves, and our place in the world [Solomon]
23955 Ideologies are mythologies which guide our actions [Solomon]
23958 The supposed irrationality of our emotions is often tactless or faulty expression of them [Solomon]
23956 The Myth of the Passions says they are irrational, uncontrolled and damaging [Solomon]
23957 We often trust our intuitions as rational, despite their lack of reflection [Solomon]
23959 Some emotions are externally directed, others internally [Solomon]
23963 Which emotions we feel depends on our sense of our own powers [Solomon]
23960 Emotions are defined by their objects [Solomon]
23961 The heart of an emotion is its judgement of values and morality [Solomon]
23962 Lovers adopt the interests of their beloved, rather than just valuing them [Solomon]
23965 Emotions can be analysed under fifteen headings [Solomon]
23964 There are no 'basic' emotions, only socially prevalent ones [Solomon]