Emotions: a Philosophical Introduction from Coursera

Philosophy is like sex: sure you can get some interesting results, but that's not why we do it. Going one step beyond…why do you FEEL pain or pleasure? Do plants have emotions? How is possible that some people do not understand other’s emotions? Emotions seem to be everywhere, giving meaning to all events of our lives. They are the backbone of social activities as well as they drive the cognitive processes of several living entities. Several animals, including humans, have emotions but…what about machines?...Do machine can have emotions?

This course will help you to understand and to identify most important philosophical ideas and debates about emotions, as well as it will provide you a rich source of data about neurological, psychological or anthropological analysis of emotions.

In a nutshell: this is a course to feel and think about.

What's inside

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!

Where do emotions come from?

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.

How many emotions do exist?

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!

What does a plant feel?

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.

A neuroanthropological approach to emotions: from neurons to societies

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.

The philosophies on emotions

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!].

21st Century & emotions: affective computing and sociable robots

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.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the nature and role of emotions in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience

Develops critical thinking and analysis skills necessary for understanding emotions

Provides a comprehensive overview of the historical and contemporary debates on emotions

Covers a wide range of topics, including the evolution of emotions, the neurobiology of emotions, and the social and cultural aspects of emotions

Taught by Jordi Vallverdú, a leading expert in the philosophy of emotions

May require students to have a basic understanding of philosophy and psychology

Reviews summary

Emotions: a philosophical exploration

Learners say this course is a solid introduction to the philosophical study of emotions. The course is largely well-received, with students especially appreciating the engaging assignments. Overall, this course is suitable for learners interested in philosophical perspectives on emotions.

The course materials are well-organized and accessible.

"At the end of this course I understand more about the emotion."

"The course is well-structured, the tests and the information is delivered a way too easy; sometimes there was supposed to be a lot of information (on the slide), but not that much has been discussed. Anyway it was a pleasure to listen to prof Jordi Vallverdu and I enjoyed the course."

"Este curso es muy bien presentado con muchas emociones. Es muy interesante en cómo se producen nuestras emociones. Gracias al Profesor."

The course provides relevant and informative additional readings and videos.

"This is such a valuable and informatic course. The lecturer also explains everything clearly."

"References those provided are very useful and relevant."

"Me ayudo a tener una idea más consolidada sobre las emociones, las lecturas contribuyeron mucho a mi aprendizaje."

Professor Jordi is engaging and knowledgeable.

"Great Material! Excellent presentation! Very good use of Coursera technology including Avatars and great summaries in End Remarks on the videos."

"The professor is super fun and you will surely learn alot."

"Lo disfruté muchísimo! Es una excelente herramienta para quienes buscan iniciar el conocimiento y reconocimiento de las emociones en busca de una mejor calidad de vida. Jordi es lo mejor!"

Some learners felt the course could benefit from a stronger philosophical focus.

"A bit disappointing."

"It was certainly confusing, for the course is presented as 'A Philosophical introduction', but there was almost no philosophical approach until the antepenultimate lesson."

"I thought this course was in Spanish, and i was very dissapointed when i realized that a guy that speaks native spanish was trying to speak english when he clearly wasnt fluent."

Some learners found difficulty understanding the instructor's English.

"Really challenging to understand the speaker's English. Made it difficult to listen to and not engaging."

"The lecturer seems passionate about the subject, but I'm afraid the language discrepancy makes it very hard to follow the content."

"Este curso es realmente genial, pero el español del profesor es muy malo. Se pierde muchísimo tiempo esperando su tartamudeo y se pierde la fluidez de la clase."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Emotions: a Philosophical Introduction with these activities:

Emotion Regulation Apps Tutorial

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Introduces and guides learners through using mobile apps designed to assist in emotion regulation and well-being.

Browse courses on Emotion Regulation

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Research and select reputable emotion regulation apps
Download and install the chosen apps
Explore the features and functions of the apps
Practice using the apps regularly to support emotion regulation

Read 'Emotion Revealed' by Paul Ekman

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Provides an evidence-based understanding of emotions and their neurobiological basis.

View Emotions Revealed, Second Edition: Recognizing... on Amazon

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Read the introduction and chapter 1
Identify the different emotions discussed in the book
Analyze the role of facial expressions in conveying emotions
Summarize the key findings and implications of the research presented in the book

Emotion Resource Compilation

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Facilitates access to a diverse range of resources on emotions by creating a comprehensive compilation.

Browse courses on Emotions

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Identify credible sources of information on emotions
Gather and organize articles, books, websites, and other materials
Create a digital or physical compilation for easy access
Share the compilation with others for educational or support purposes

Five other activities

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Emotion Discussion Group

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Fosters deeper understanding and empathy by encouraging discussions on personal emotional experiences and perspectives.

Browse courses on Emotions

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Form or join a peer group or support circle
Establish ground rules for respectful and open communication
Share personal experiences and perspectives on emotions
Actively listen and provide support to others

Emotion Recognition Exercise

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Develops the ability to accurately recognize and differentiate emotions through facial cues.

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Practice identifying emotions from images of facial expressions
Use online tools or apps for emotion recognition exercises
Engage in discussions or group activities focused on emotion recognition

Attend an Emotion Regulation Workshop

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Provides practical strategies and techniques for managing and regulating emotions, reducing stress, and improving well-being.

Browse courses on Emotion Regulation

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Research and identify relevant workshops or training programs
Attend the workshop and actively participate in the exercises and discussions
Practice and apply the learned techniques in daily life

Emotion Journal

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Enhances self-awareness and understanding of personal emotions by regularly recording and analyzing emotional experiences.

Browse courses on Emotions

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Create a journal or use a digital tool to record daily emotional experiences
Describe the situation or event that triggered the emotion
Identify and label the experienced emotion
Reflect on the reasons or causes of the emotion
Explore any physical or physiological responses associated with the emotion

Emotion Hackathon

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Promotes innovation and problem-solving by engaging participants in creating technological solutions related to emotion detection, analysis, or regulation.

Browse courses on Emotion AI

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Form a team or collaborate with others
Identify a problem or challenge related to emotions
Develop a creative and innovative solution using technology
Present and demonstrate the solution to a panel of judges

Career center

Learners who complete Emotions: a Philosophical Introduction will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Philosopher

This course is an excellent starting point for someone who wants to pursue a career as a Philosopher. It covers the historical debates on the nature and role of emotions into philosophical spaces from both Western and Eastern perspectives.

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Psychologist

In order to be successful as a Psychologist, one must possess a comprehensive understanding of human emotions. This course, by introducing basic philosophical ideas related to emotional values and discussing the nature of emotions, will assist current or future Psychologists to gain the knowledge needed for success in this role.

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Neuroscientist

Emotions are tied to human and animal neurology, and studying emotions can help one to pursue a career as a Neuroscientist. This course, by examining how emotions have emerged and evolved, as well as how neurons influence societies (including human societies), will provide a foundation for understanding the biological basis of emotions.

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Sociologist

This course covers the role of emotions in social activities as well as cognitive processes of several living entities, providing useful foundational knowledge for Sociologists. The course's examination of how emotions are spread among living entities and their role in social cohesion will help Sociologists understand how societies function.

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Clinical Psychologist

Emotions are vital to the human experience, and understanding them is fundamental to success as a Clinical Psychologist. This course, by exploring perspectives on emotions from Western and Eastern thinkers, will help to build a foundation for understanding how emotions influence human behavior and mental health.

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Social Worker

Social Workers must understand human emotions in order to be successful in their roles. By examining evolutionary reconstructions of emotions in this course, Social Workers can strengthen their foundation for understanding behaviors and motivations.

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Lawyer

Emotions are a major part of the law, and this course will provide the foundation of knowledge needed to understand the role of emotions in the legal profession. The course's exploration into the debate on the number and type of emotions will benefit those who wish to specialize in fields like criminal law where understanding motivations is vital.

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Writer

As emotions are such a central theme in human existence, a Writer would benefit from this course. This course, by studying the nature of emotions and how they have been understood throughout history, will help to build a foundation of knowledge that can be applied to writing in many genres.

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Teacher

Emotions play a major role in education, and understanding them is essential to being an effective Teacher. This course, by discussing the role of emotions in historical philosophical traditions, can help Teachers build a foundation for fostering positive learning environments.

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Professor

Emotions and philosophy go hand-in-hand, and one who seeks a career as a Professor may benefit from studying the material covered in this course. This course covers the history of how philosophers have viewed emotions and will provide context for understanding the many professions where emotions play a role.

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Anthropologist

This course provides a useful introduction to the study of emotions from an anthropological perspective. The course's examination of how emotions are regulated and their role in social cohesion will help Anthropologists build a foundation for understanding human behavior and culture.

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Counselor

Counselors must have a firm understanding of human emotions and their impact on behavior. This course can be useful to Counselors as it explores the evolutionary reconstruction of emotions and looks at the role of emotions in human socialization.

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Engineer

This course can be useful to an Engineer by helping to build a foundation for understanding the emotional factors that can influence the design and use of technology. The course's examination of the implementation of emotions into robots or computers will be of particular interest to Engineers.

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Researcher

This course may be useful to a Researcher, particularly one in the social sciences or humanities. This course covers the neurological, psychological, and anthropological analysis of emotions and will assist Researchers in building a strong foundation for understanding how emotions influence human behavior.

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Journalist

This course will strengthen foundational knowledge for those interested in Journalism, particularly in roles that focus on human interest stories or social issues. The course's examination of how emotions are displayed into new technological frameworks will aid Journalists in understanding how to effectively convey complex emotions in their writing.

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