Just Feelings: The History & Politics of Emotions

Harvard FAS

Emotions—what they are, how they are expressed, and whose feelings matter—profoundly shape history and social thought. Ranging from Enlightenment philosophy to contemporary neuroscience, this course explores how historical conceptions of emotions reveal shifting ideas of morality, race, and belonging. Students will analyze how social forces such as colonial violence and capitalism have impacted the way that people make sense of their feelings and order their collectivities. Through readings…