Lecture on Martha Nussbaum's Book "Political Emotions"

Introduction

Event focused on Martha Nussbaum's book Political Emotions.
Martha Nussbaum praised for her contributions to moral and political philosophy post-Rawls.
Recognition of Martha's interdisciplinary engagement.
Martha's distinction as a female lecturer in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Two main preoccupations: normative political philosophy and philosophical theory of emotions.
Challenges in sustaining political principles and ideals over time.

What motivates people to support political principles that require self-sacrifice and equality?
The need for a richer understanding of human emotions in political philosophy.
The need for a bridge towards a broader inclusive spectre of emotions rather than particularistic emotions and for a dialogue between established and real political principles.

How can there be a political culture encouraging people to feel positive and negative critical emotions?
Political liberalism: emotions cannot be established once and for ever and for everyone.

Examination of political emotions after the French Revolution. The arrival of democracy => a monarch does not order you what to do => freedom of choice.
Contributions of Rousseau (critic of solidaristic approach) and others on civil religion and culture of sentiment.
Critiques of Rousseau, Giuseppe Mazzini (proposed open nationalism), and Auguste Comte (religion of humanity, narrow compassion should be open for the humanity) for their methods of fostering national or global justice through sentiment.
Influence of John Stuart Mill (we should people to teach to care about one each other) and Rabindranath Tagore (“The Religion of Man”; emotions based on love, individual critic, and individual freedom, believed that women were neglected as citizens) on political emotions.

Compassion as a necessary but imperfect emotion. It can be developed by narrative art.
Disgust and its societal implications. People want to dominate their fate => antropo denial (people do not want to be like animals). Disgust is associated with animality. This leads to hatred. Respect is insufficient to counter disgust.
Importance of love nourished by play in overcoming negative emotions.

Importance of robust cultivation of a critical public culture and contextual sensitivity.
Using art, public spaces, and education to foster political emotions.

Patriotism as a potentially positive force when correctly cultivated.
Use of national narrative to foster a sense of justice.
Examples from Lincoln (Gindesburg address), Gandhi, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Extending compassion and addressing disgust through public events and art.
Examples include the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (shared mourning as a uniting action) and Chicago's Millennium Park (as an example of comic festival, shared swimming pool full of people of different race).

Exploration of whether political emotions have intrinsic or solely instrumental value.