Alchemies of the Mind
Alchemies of the Mind
$48.00
USDJon Elster has written a comprehensive, wide-ranging book on the emotions in which he considers the full range of theoretical approaches. Drawing on history, literature, philosophy and psychology Elster presents a complete account of the role of the emotions in human behavior. Combining methodological and theoretical arguments with empirical case studies and written with Elster's customary verve and economy, this book will have a broad appeal to those in philosophy, psychology, economics, political science, as well as literary studies, history, and sociology.
- Elster and his track record as a successful author for us
- Genuine interdisciplinary appeal - philosophy, psychology, economics, political science
- Hot topic - good deal of work on the emotions at the moment
Reviews & endorsements
"The book should have a broad appeal within the humanties as well as the social sciences. Highly recommended for upper-division undergraduates and above."
--Choice
"In this polished work the author, a highly respected political philosopher from Columbia University...reaches for a broad theory of the role of the emotions in human behavior."
--Virginia Quarterly Review
"Jon Elster has written an important and useful book on human emotions and the social sciences...his book a useful source for anyone working in the area."
--Jrnl of Economic Behavior and Organization
"This is perhaps the richest book on emotions I have read."
--The Philosophical Review
Product details
November 1998Paperback
9780521644877
464 pages
230 × 153 × 27 mm
0.635kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Preface and acknowledgments
- Part I. A Plea for Mechanisms:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Explaining by mechanisms
- 3. Proverbial mechanisms
- 4. Mechanisms in Montaigne
- 5. Mechanisms in Tocqueville
- 6. Some elementary mechanisms
- 7. Molecular mechanisms
- 8. From mechanisms to laws
- 9. A plea for disaggregation
- Part II. Emotions before Psychology:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Aristotle on the emotions
- 3. The French moralists
- 4. Emotion in literature
- Part III. Social Emotions in Historical Context:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Shame and social norms
- 3. Envy in social life
- 4. Honor, duels, and feuds
- Part IV. Rationality and the Emotions:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The nature of emotion
- 3. Rationality and the emotions
- Appendix
- Part V. Alchemies of the Mind:
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Transmutation
- 3. Misrepresentation
- Coda.
