Solomon’s discussion will have a different flavor than much of what we’ve read in that he will make little reference to recent work in either psychology or cognitive science more broadly. That’s partly because this piece is somewhat older than most that we’ve read, but it’s mainly because Solomon focuses on the content of our ordinary thinking about the mind. In a way, he is exploring issues raised by folk psychology itself rather than, for example, the question of its relation to scientific psychology. However, as will be apparent in the article by Prinz that we will discuss on Thursday, the issues Solomon addresses are quite relevant to recent psychological studies of emotion.
• Solomon’s main point is made early on: emotions are different from feelings and indeed more like thought. He pursues this issue throughout the first section. As you read him, think how someone on the other side might respond to his arguments, and watch for points he makes along the way. In particular, notice his discussion of first-person ascriptions of emotion near the end of the section.
• Solomon argues already in the first section that emotions are actions. He develops this point further in the second section by arguing that they are rational. However, emotions are clearly different from the most straightforward cases of rational action, and the section is largely occupied with exploring these differences. Again think how someone who disagrees with him might respond but also note the various aspects of emotions he considers as he makes his arguments.