Abstract

Two sorts of theories of the emotions are systematically criticized: reductive theories, which are criticized for failing to distinguish an emotion from its usual cognitive antecedents and its usual active consequents, and transformative theories , which are criticized for making emotion into a kind of extra-rational anomaly, at odds with both rational thought and effective action. ;An original theory is given, one which treats emotions as internalized actions. The relevant notions of internalization and of action are discussed in detail and an analogy is made to thought as internalized speech. Among its advantages, this theory is able to account for the wide variety of functions that emotions have in our lives. ;The theory that emotions are internalized actions suggests more sophisticated analyses of the relations between emotion, belief and desire, active and passive states, and mind and body. Also, it offers new insights into the greater emotionality of women and the structure of the justification of emotion