Event Timeslots (1)
Wednesday
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This seminar explores the concept of valence, a central but contested notion across affective science, psychology of emotion, and philosophy of mind. We will examine how valence functions in psychological models of affect as the dimension that structures experiences of pleasure and displeasure, motivates attraction and aversion, and interacts with other dimensions of affect, like arousal. From a philosophical perspective, we will consider whether valence is best understood as either an evaluative or attitudinal property, a functional role, or something else entirely, as well as how it shapes debates about the nature of emotions, the structure of phenomenal experience, and the explanation of motivation. Readings will span empirical work in affective science, contemporary theories of emotion, and philosophical accounts of perceptual and affective experience, with an eye to assessing whether a unified account of valence is possible or whether its usage fragments across disciplines. Assessment will be based on short weekly reflections critical of primary texts and a research paper exploring a contested issue surrounding valence.
Literatur: Full list of readings will be made available via Moodle. Below are exemplars of introductory readings:
Barlassina, L. (2020). Valence: A reflection. Emotion Researcher: ISRE's Sourcebook for Research on Emotion and Affect. https://philarchive.org/rec/BARVAR-3
Feldman Barret, L. (2006). Valence is a basic building block of emotional life. Journal of Research in Personality, 40(1), 35-55. http://ivizlab.sfu.ca/arya/Papers/Others/Emotions/Valence.pdf
