Reason and emotion: Remarks on Husserl’s and Heidegger’s theory of emotions

Abstract

In the following study I would like to analyze certain similarities and differences of Edmund Husserl’s and Martin Heidegger’s theory of mood and emotion. For the first look it might seem that for Heidegger the role of emotions and moods is much more important and emphatic than for Husserl. In Heidegger emotion and mood – alongside with thought and language – represent one of those fundamental existential modes, which – together – interpret and unfold the world for man (for being-there or Dasein). However, closer examination shows that for Husserl emotion and mood have a surprisingly similar function as for Heidegger – even before he met Heidegger, in his unpublished research manuscripts.

I would like to describe the complex and exciting way of interpreting the phenomena of emotions and moods in the life-work Husserl and Heidegger; and – at the same time – I would like show their essential role in articulating human experience in theoretical and pre-theoretical, practical life.