This month, we'll just be watching a video lecture of Nussbaum, which can be found here. But, if you'd prefer, you can read this text written by her, which can be found here. 

Nussbaum's main argument

Nussbaum's central argument goes against the view that emotions are urges or sensations that mainly interfere with reason. Look closely at a case like grief, she says: what makes it grief rather than some other state is the thought at its core — the recognition that someone of immense importance to your life is gone. That evaluation isn't a separate cause sitting alongside the feeling; it is the emotion's heart. Emotions, then, are judgments of value: appraisals of things we care about deeply but cannot fully control, like our loved ones, our health, and our hopes. They reflect our neediness and vulnerability in a world we don't command. 

Helpful Questions to Keep in Mind

1) Nussbaum argues that an emotion isn't merely a feeling that accompanies a thought — it is a kind of judgment. Does that match your own experience? Can you recall a feeling that seemed to arrive before any judgment, or with no judgment at all?

2) Nussbaum holds that emotions track things we care about but don't fully control — our health, the people we love, our plans. If that's right, would a perfectly self-sufficient, invulnerable being feel anything at all?

3) A natural objection: emotions involve bodily tumult — the racing heart, the tears, the heat of anger — that doesn't look like "judging" anything. How does Nussbaum try to fold that physical side into her theory?

4) We say a belief can be false. Can an emotion be mistaken? If so, what would make an emotion "fitting" or correct in the first place?

These sessions are participant-driven discussions focused on philosophical essays, facilitated by a trained CU Boulder philosopher. Our goal at each discussion is to build a philosophical dialogue by investigating as a community of thinkers. Each session focuses on a philosophical text, but we do not regard the authors we read as unquestionable authorities. Rather, we consider each author to be another voice in our shared dialogue. 

To prepare, please read the selected text to the best of your ability. Most months you'll find a reading guide linked above. If you are unable to read ahead, please come anyway. We recommend bring a copy of the reading with you - digital or printed out.

At the discussion, after brief introductions and a review of the discussion policies, the facilitator will ask participants to share questions and ideas for group discussion.  The facilitator will then guide the group in working through as many of their questions as possible before recapping and wrapping up the discussion.

No background in philosophy is expected or required. We are excited to discuss the ideas raised by your interaction with the text!

Click here for our discussion guidelines.

Boulder Public Library "Classics of Philosophy" reading group:

We used to have a group just like this group, but meeting on the 2nd Monday of each month. This group has closed, but you can still brows the list of past sessions for ideas on things to read!

Great philosophy podcasts

The History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps - Over 350 episodes covering various philosophers and topics. Includes episode series on Indian philosophy and Africana philosophy.

Hi-Phi Nation - approximately 40 episodes (as of 2020) that discuss philosophical ideas in contemporary contexts.  The most recent seasons have focused on issues of justice and politics.

Discussion groups

Grey Havens Philosophy - A Longmont, CO based nonprofit running weekly and monthly philosophical discussion groups for all ages.

Your local philosophers!

Philosophy Department at the University of Colorado - Boulder