Abstract

This article addresses whether contemporary feeling theories of the emotions can overcome the problems generally associated with such theories. Specifically, it considers whether they can explain the normative assessment of the emotions, their availability for introspective identification, and their intentionality. The article looks primarily at the work of Jesse Prinz, and suggests that his responses to these problems fall short as a result of a flawed account of the intentional nature of emotions. I conclude with brief comments on how theories which include intentional states such as judgements within the ontology of emotion overcome the problems which are identified