Summary of Richard Firth-Godbehere's A Human History of Emotion

By IRB Media

Get the Summary of Richard Firth-Godbehere's A Human History of Emotion in 20 minutes. Please note: This is a summary & not the original book. Original book introduction: We humans like to think of ourselves as rational creatures, who, as a species, have relied on calculation and intellect to survive. But many of the most important moments in our history had little to do with cold, hard facts and a lot to do with feelings. Events ranging from the origins of philosophy to the birth of the world’s major religions, the fall of Rome, the Scientific Revolution, and some of the bloodiest wars that humanity has ever experienced can’t be properly understood without understanding emotions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Nov 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638157984

IRB Media

With IRB books, you can get the key takeaways and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways and analyze them for your convenience.

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Insights on Richard Firth-Godbehere's A Human History of Emotion

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 11

Insights from Chapter 12

Insights from Chapter 13

Insights from Chapter 14

Insights from Chapter 15

Insights from Chapter 16

Insights from Chapter 17

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

Emotions are a modern construct that were created in the early 1800s to help humans deal with the rapid changes occurring in society. They are a bunch of feelings that are placed in a box and labeled emotion.

#2

When it comes to defining what emotion is, it is difficult to decide whether emotions are biological or cultural. However, it is clear that emotions are universal, and are felt by all humans.

#3

The field of the history of emotions studies how people have felt emotions throughout history and how they have expressed those emotions.

#4

Emotional labor is the effort required to stay within an emotional regime. Emotional labor exists because emotional regimes are imposed from above, and people need access to venues where they can release their emotions. This can fuel revolutions.

#5

Emotions have played a significant role in shaping the world, both for better and for worse.

Insights from Chapter 2

#1

Emotions, as we know them today, were not always understood or even recognized by past civilizations.

#2

The philosopher Plato authored the Dialogues, a series of debates that were an important source of inspiration for later philosophers.

#3

For the ancient Greeks, emotions were known as pathos. They believed that everything had a form, or ideal, that it was striving to achieve. When something interrupted the path of this ideal, it caused suffering.

#4

The spirited part of our soul, which is also known as the thymos, is what makes us act and fight for what we believe in. It is also what makes us feel anger, fear, and courage. The pathē of hope, for example, can make you do things even if they aren’t in your best interest. You have to control this part of your soul to be