A punchy and comprehensive introduction to contemporary emotion theories from philosophical, psychological, and historical perspectives.

Theories of Emotion is a philosophical introduction to the most influential theories of emotion of the past 60 years in philosophy, psychology, and biology. This multi-disciplinary approach provides the reader with a one-stop shop for encountering the key debates and cutting-edge ideas in what is becoming a central focus of contemporary thought.

An introductory chapter on definitions of emotion is followed by three main sections on the way emotions are expressed, subjectively experienced, and related to action and motivation. This accessible but probing approach integrates philosophical analysis with innovative research in psychology and cognitive science, contextualizing current debates in the history of ideas from Darwin to pragmatism. Each section is introduced by a detailed illustration of a foundational thinker’s work on emotion (Charles Darwin, William James, and John Dewey, respectively), showing how their insights and discoveries have shaped current views and suggesting ways in which they might still enrich contemporary approaches.

"Campeggiani’s book offers an overview of theories of emotions which combines philosophical depth, empirical grounding, and historical foundations. A rare combination of virtues. It would be an excellent companion for a graduate class on emotions, because of the balance it strikes between covering theoretical basics and mapping the contours of the very latest debates in philosophy and the affective sciences." - Andrea Scarantino, Professor of Philosophy, Georgia State University, USA

"This is the best introduction to the philosophy of emotion I have read. It covers an impressive amount of topics and debates in an accessible and engaging manner. It is historically accurate and conceptually precise, while also addressing very recent developments in emotion theory. A must read for any student of emotion!" - Giovanna Colombetti, Professor of Philosophy, University of Exeter, UK