Social theory and emotion: A philosophical tour

Abstract

This article explores and problematizes the explanatory value behind diverse sociological and philosophical traditions on understanding emotion. In particular, the paper attempts to ‘dig’ into history to reveal macro and micro arguments relating to US and European social theory which have attempt to unravel the contours of the social and experiential construction of emotion. The paper is enriched by an examination of Marx, Durkheim and Marx to an examination of symbolic interactionism to the postmodern question. Such is the diversity of social philosophies, we need a diverse approach to holistically understand emotion in its theoretical context and social processes.