PHI372   Pain, Pleasure, and Emotions   (20 credits)

Description

In this module, we will discuss the nature of affective states like pleasures, pains, and emotions. We will focus on three problems: (1) The constitution problem: What all and only affective states have in common? E.g., what makes pains and joys, but not visual experiences, affective states? (2) The distinction problem: What makes each of type of affective state the particular type it is? E.g., what makes an orgasm a sensory pleasure and fear an emotion? (3)The problem of affective phenomenology: Some affective state feel good, others feel bad. In virtue of what affective states have this distinctive phenomenal character?

Reading List