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Situated Affectivity: From Individuals' Emotions to Collective Harm

8.3224

Dozenten

Prof. Dr. phil. Sven Walter

Beschreibung

Course Description
As human beings, we have both cognitive and affective skills. We store, retrieve and process information provided by our perceptual organs in order to react in (ideally) appropriate ways: We, for instance, interpret a moving spot on the retina with a certain size, shape and color together with a buzzing sound as an approaching insect and step back to avoid it. However, unlike a robot who has been trained to detect and avoid insects, we do not just react in a “detached” matter of “mere computation.” Our behavior is affectively toned: We not just cool-bloodedly react to our “cognitive” evaluation of something as dangerous, pleasant, repelling, friendly etc., but care about what is going on: We fear the insect might bite us, we are distressed by the thought that it might be poisonous, or disgusted by its hairy legs. Over the past decade or two, proponents of what has come to be called a “situated” approach to cognition and affectivity have pointed out that this is, albeit certainly true, only part of the story. Sometimes, our affective responses are indeed just reactions to environmental triggers elicited in us as quite passive observers, as when we are disgusted by the insect or feel cheerful when running across an old friend. Sometimes, however, we play a more active role, acting in rather than merely reacting to our environment: We feel sad or alone, want to brighten our mood and therefore go and see an old friend, i.e., we actively structure the environment in such a way that we can use it as a resource that changes our affective life; we see that our partner feels disappointed, want to brighten their mood and therefore surprise them with a bouquet of their favorite flowers, i.e., we actively structure the environment in such a way that it shapes other’s affective life. This course is about the various ways in which structuring the environment can affect how people feel (and, as a consequence, behave). In particular, it will be concerned with different ways in which people’s affective life is negatively influenced by how others—from individuals to nations—have structured the environment, i.e., different facets of what Jan Slaby (2016) has called “mind invasion.”

Learning Objectives
Throughout the course, students will engage with classical and contemporary debates regarding the nature of emotions and situated affectivity, develop critical thinking skills, gain fundamental knowledge in a key area of theoretical philosophy and apply philosophical insights to cognitive science research.
Prerequisites and Assessments
Students should have successfully completed the Philosophy of Cognitive Science lecture.
Weekly Reading Responses: 40%
Final Paper: 60%

Note: This syllabus is subject to change based on the progress of the course and the needs of the students. Any changes will be communicated promptly.

Weitere Angaben

Ort: 50/E07
Zeiten: Mo. 18:00 - 20:00 (wöchentlich)
Erster Termin: Montag, 28.10.2024 18:00 - 20:00, Ort: 50/E07
Veranstaltungsart: Seminar (Offizielle Lehrveranstaltungen)