Moving Ourselves, Moving Others: Motion and Emotion in Intersubjectivity, Consciousness, and Language

Abstract

Consciousness & Emotion Book Series publishes original works on this topic, in philosophy, psychology and the neurosciences. The series emphasizes thoughtful analysis of the implications of both empirical and experiential (e.g., clinical psychological) approaches to emotion. It will include topical works by scientists who are interested in the implications of their empirical findings for an understanding of emotion and consciousness and their interrelations. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataMoving ourselves, moving others : motion and emotion in intersubjectivity, consciousness and language / edited by Ad Foolen... [et al.]. An electronic version of this book is freely available, thanks to the support of libraries working with Knowledge Unlatched. KU is a collaborative initiative designed to make high quality books Open Access for the public good. The Open Access isbn for this book is 978 90 272 7491 5. IntroductionThis book is inspired by the theme session "Intersubjectivity and Language: The Interplay of Cognition and Emotion" held at the 10th International Cognitive Linguistics Conference in Krakow, Poland, in July 2007. As organizers of the session, we felt that an interdisciplinary volume on this matter would be an appropriate follow-up. In addition to contributors from the theme session, we invited authors who are well known in the field. Their positive response led to a total of 16 papers, which we grouped into 3 Parts: I Consciousness, II Intersubjectivity, and III Language. We asked each of the contributors to discuss these 'higher functions' of the human mind from the foundational perspective of motion and/or emotion (See Figure 1 in the Prologue). The polyphonous result contains, we think, many harmonizing but also some disharmonizing tones. As such, the volume constitutes a relevant contribution to the actual discussions in the humanities with respect to the human mind. The 16 papers are framed by a Prologue and an Epilogue. Jordan Zlatev, one of the editors and also co-author of one of the papers in Part III, wrote the Prologue in which he introduces each paper in the overarching perspective of motion and emotion. Colwyn Trevarthen, co-author of one of the papers in Part II, followed our request to write an Epilogue, in which he reflects on the contributions of the volume and places them in a historical perspective. Editing a voluminous collection as the present one does not involve much motion, besides moving fingers and hand on keyboard and mouse. A good deal of emotion was and is involved, however. Above all feelings of thankfulness. First of all, our gratitude goes to the authors for their work and patient cooperation over the years that the volume took shape. Secondly, we thank the colleagues who were willing to act as anonymous reviewers for the different papers. Special thanks go to Ralph Ellis, co-editor of the Consciousness & Emotion Book Series in which this volume is being published. Ralph has given us useful support along the way and even felt inspired to contribute, ...