What is an emotion?

Answer 1

An emotion is what you feel, sometimes after doing or thinking something, or after someone tells you something. For example, after having someone tell you that a friend or family member has died, you will most often feel sad, depressed, or even angry. But if you go to a carnival with a loved one, chances are you'll feel happy. A reaction that involves your mind body and behavior

Answer 2

There are two branches in philosophy that indirectly deal with this subject. Aesthetics, dealing with beauty, and ethics which deals with, generally speaking, morality. Both of these branches, as I said, indirectly address the concept of emotion. I have not yet read about these two fields to know their basic answers to this question, but if you are interested of finding out what emotion is in regards to beauty and morality, you can start with them. You can also turn to the philosophy of consciousness which tries to explain the working and origins of the mind. If you want a more existential approach, there is always metaphysics, another branch of philosophy. Why do I keep changing the topic to the mind? Because the concept of emotion derives from that of the mind. There can be a mind without emotions (the schizoid personality disorder if you really want an example, but only for humans), but you can not have a mind and have emotions. So you see, first you must have an answer to the question of "what is the mind?" and then try to define emotion.

A more pragmatic approach to emotion is the field of psychology. Here, as in philosophy, there are many opinions on this subject, but there is relatively more coherence in this neck of the woods. Personally, I consider that emotions are a consequence of instincts. The most simplistic example is when you see a girl/guy on the street and you... feel... attracted to her/him. In that moment you are experiencing an emotion. Butt But, that is actually the instinct of reproduction which compels towards her, libido or Eros if you may. Emotions are the means of consciously and somewhat unconsciously indicating our mind that we are in a "positive" or "good" state in regards to the instinct of existing. You feel sad when you see a member of the family die, because you lose hes/hers familial protection, you lose an individual with whom you could socialize and coexist, you are then "vulnerable" to the world. The instinct of life/existence reacts and generates the emotion of sadness so you can consciously and unconsciously adapt and eliminate the problem at hand. You feel happy when someone tells you how smart you are, because you feel superior, better, you feel more confident in your abilities of tackling with the world and it's problems, you strive to some degree for perfection (super-ego). The instinct of adaptation (NOT survival!) reacts, and generates the emotion of happiness. A reason why so many people strive to be on the top of the political and social hierarchy, or obtain Ph.Ds and brandish their intelectual superiority. I sometimes think that most intellectual people are actually the ones who feature the most animalistic characteristics of us all, not to mention the negative consequences that they bring along with their mentality, take J. R. Oppenheimer for example, or Edward Teller. So much debauchery... For those who are confident in scientific progress, I fear that they do not know when to draw the two edged sword and when to steady it.

Answer 3

Emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity); "the remark hurt his feelings"