Embodied Emotions

Emotions are typically viewed as mental states that are situated in the hidden inner world of the subject or in the mind. This contrasts with a conception of embodiment that sees emotions as phenomena that connect the self and the world in a kind of bodily resonance. Viewed from this perspective, intersubjectivity does not begin with an isolated self that must first find its way to others, but with interaffectivity. This is what fosters primary, inter-corporeal relationships and our enduring bonds with other people.

Drawing on a range of emotions such as empathy, trust, shame, hatred, and grief as examples, in this book, Thomas Fuchs articulates a new perspective on our affective connection with the world.