The Self and its Emotions

Examines the self issues and emotions that lie at the intersection of psychology, philosophy of mind and moral philosophy.

Kristján Kristjánsson (Author)

9781107663510, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 July 2012

290 pages, 4 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.43 kg

Review of the hardback: 'The writing is intended for an interdisciplinary audience and is not overly technical, even though it employs much philosophical terminology. I am impressed by the breadth of this book and favour Kristjansson's methodology, a Humean account of moral psychology building on both Aristotle and contemporary psychology …' Sylvia Burrow, Metapsychology

If there is one value that seems beyond reproach in modernity, it is that of the self and the terms that cluster around it, such as self-esteem, self-confidence and self-respect. It is not clear, however, that all those who invoke the self really know what they are talking about, or that they are all talking about the same thing. What is this thing called 'self', then, and what is its psychological, philosophical and educational salience? More specifically, what role do emotions play in the creation and constitution of the self? This book proposes a realist, emotion-grounded conception of selfhood. In arguing for a closer link between selfhood and emotion than has been previously suggested, the author critically explores and integrates self research from diverse academic fields. This is a provocative book that should excite anyone interested in cutting-edge research on self-issues and emotions that lies at the intersection of psychology, philosophy of mind, moral philosophy and moral education.

1. Introduction
2. What selves are
3. Exploring selves
4. The emotional self
5. Self-concept: self-esteem and self-confidence
6. The self as moral character
7. Self-respect
8. Multicultural selves
9. Self-pathologies
10. Self-change and self-education.

Subject Areas: Philosophy & theory of education [JNA], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Psychology [JM], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], Philosophy of mind [HPM]