Heidegger’s Theory of Mood qua Attunement in Early Heidegger, 1924-1930
Date
2024-09-25
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0009-0001-1318-6188
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
I argue that there is a clear line of thought in early Heidegger wherein he develops a
novel and interesting theory of moods and emotions that privileges moods and emotions above
cognition and willing in determining how one acts within in the world, as well as how one relates
to oneself and others, and, additionally, to some degree, has authority—and priority, over one’s
rational capacities. Heidegger’s theory of mood and emotion is encapsulated within his concept
of attunement, translated from Heidegger’s neologism Befindlichkeit, and Stimmung. To track the
evolution of his concept of attunement I will perform an exegesis and examination of three of his
early works: Basic Concepts of Aristotelian Philosophy from 1924; Being and Time from 1927;
and The Fundamental Concepts of Metaphysics: World, Solitude, Solitude from 1929-1930. I
demonstrate how he develops his conception of moods and emotions in the concept of
attunement from its genesis as a reading of the Aristotelian concept of pathos, translated as
passion, into Befindlichkeit in Being and Time, and the substitution of Befindlichkeit in
Fundamental Concepts with the concept of Stimmung¸ Stimmung being the German word for
mood, which translates literally as “tuning,” hence the concept of attunement. This theory is
novel because it runs counter to the tendency of modern philosophy and science which privileges
rationality in guiding how one conducts one’s life, and either ignores, or encourages one to
disregard one’s moods as meaningless, fleeting phenomena. I end up parsing out a compelling
theory of moodedness and emotionality that does not devolve into irrationalism, and provides
unique insights into moods and emotions and their authoritative character.
Description
Keywords
Martin, Heidegger, Martin Heidegger, Heidegger, Martin, Attunement, Mood, Emotion, Feeling, Affect, Disposition, Constitution, Comportment, state-of-mind, Befindlichkeit, Stimmung, Grundstimmung, Grundbefindlichkeit, Theory of Mood, Theory of Emotion, Early Heidegger, Being and Time, Being & Time, Basic Concepts of Aristotelian Philosophy, Fundamental Concepts of Metaphysics, Ontology, Existentialism, Phenomenology, Continental Philosophy, Phenomenology, Hermeneutics, Metaphysics, Analytic Philosophy, Ancient Philosophy, 20th Century Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, Contemporary Philosophy, Psychology of moods, psychology of emotions, biology of moods, biology of emotions, Aristotelian Philosophy, Aristotle, Pathos, Passion, Anxiety, Fear, Boredom, Angst, Langweile, Dread, Augenblick, Moment of Vision, Profound Boredom, Temporality, Philosophical Anthropology, Axiology, German Philosophy, Canadian Philosophy, Philosophy of Mood, Philosophy of Emotion,
Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Philosophy
Program
Philosophy