Spinoza's theory of emotion and the implications in emotional education

[[abstract]]This thesis aims at making a description of Spinoza’s theory of emotion, and revealing the uniqueness of this theory by comparing it with four modern emotional theories. Further insights of emotional education are derived from the above analysis. Idea analysis, hermeneutics and historical research are used. The procedures begin with discussing the origin and development of Spinoza’s theory of emotion. Secondly, the researcher expounds Spinoza’s viewpoint on emotion and the methods for converting the passions. Thirdly, Spinoza’s emotional theory is enriched by the comparison of Spinoza and modern emotional theories. Finally, according to the findings, the research brings up some suggestions for emotional education. The findings of this thesis are as follows: Firstly, several philosophers exert a influence on Spinoza’s philosophy. Especially based on criticizing Descartes’ mind-body dualism, Spinoza asserts his own theory of emotion by peculiar psycho-physical identity. Secondly, Spinoza describes the origin, nature and classifications of emotions exhaustively, and depicts the human bondage of the passions, then derives five strategies of transforming the passions through epistemology. Thirdly, Spinoza pronounces that it is the best way to control the passions by means of the active emotions. As soon as knowledge is regarded as emotion, in addition, the passions can be under control. Fourthly, Spinoza’s theory of emotion is labeled as the cognitive theory of emotion, but the conception of emotions covers a wide range of significance including cognition, feeling, motivation and appraisal. Fifthly, emotional education draws inspiration from Spinoza’s emotional theory. Teachers have to lead out students’ rational mind, and assist them in getting rid of the passions. Finally, four methods of emotional education are obtained from Spinoza’s theory of emotion. In other words, they involve developing rational cognition ability, possessing correct emotion attribution, cultivating active emotions and utilizing one emotion to control the other emotion.