Emotional Mind: The Affective Roots of Culture and Cognition

The Emotional Mind explores how emotions have played a crucial role in the evolution of the mind and how they shape our thoughts, behaviors, and cultural expressions. It suggests that rational cognition emerged relatively recently, and emotions have been the driving force behind many of the distinctive features of human society. The book combines insights from philosophy, biology, anthropology, neuroscience, and psychology to offer a new paradigm for understanding what makes us unique.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 448 pages
\n Publication date: 26 April 2019
\n Publisher: Harvard University Press
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Emotions have played a pivotal role in shaping the evolution of the human mind, a fact that a philosopher and psychologist have sought to uncover in their groundbreaking work. While much attention has been paid to the brain's computational capabilities, it is important to recognize that rational cognition emerged relatively recently in evolutionary terms. For nearly 200 million years, the emotional centers of the brain were the dominant force driving human behavior.

To fully understand the evolution of the mind, we must delve into this primal capacity shared by all animals: the power to feel. Emotions infuse every thought and perception with a profound sense of feeling, influencing our behaviors, social interactions, and cultural expressions.

In their book, "The Emotional Mind," Stephen T. Asma and Rami Gabriel explore how the evolution of the emotional mind has stimulated our species' cultural expression in all its rich variety. They argue that many of the distinctive behaviors and social structures of human society can be best understood through the lens of emotions. From prehistoric cave art to the songs of Hank Williams, emotions have played a vital role in shaping our artistic, mythological, and religious traditions.

The authors of "The Emotional Mind" draw on insights and data from a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, biology, anthropology, neuroscience, and psychology. They present a compelling case that emotions are not just a byproduct of our cognitive processes but rather an essential component of our mental and emotional lives. By integrating these diverse perspectives, they offer a new paradigm for understanding what makes us unique as a species.

In conclusion, the work of Stephen T. Asma and Rami Gabriel provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the evolution of the human mind. By exploring the role of emotions in shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and cultural expressions, they offer a fresh perspective on what it means to be human. Their book provides a wealth of insights and data that will interest scholars and researchers across a wide range of disciplines.

\n Weight: 766g\n
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 36 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780674980556\n \n