In Feelings of Believing, Ryan Hickerson interprets the doxastic theories of Hume, Descartes, Husserl, and James in light of empirical work on attention and overconfidence. It brings together the history of philosophy, phenomenology, and psychology.
Also the author of The History of Intentionality: Theories of Consciousness from Brentano through Husserl, 2007) Hickerson (Western Oregon Univ.) has written a complex and subtle treatment of what he calls doxastic sentimentalism, which is the theory that belief is not solely or primarily a cognitive state but also an affective state. In short, belief is as much a matter of feeling that one believes as it is anything else. Hickerson develops this thesis in conversation with empirical psychology and a variety of philosophers: Descartes, Husserl, and William James among others. The book is carefully argued and well written. . . Those working in the area will find it a useful contribution to the literature and well worth reading. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty.
* Choice *There has been a slowly developing appreciation from various quarters in recent decades that the overlap between the philosophy of the emotions and epistemology might be greater than one would initially assume. Ryan Hickerson's Feelings of Believing: Psychology, History, and Phenomenology makes a timely and highly original contribution to this discussion. . . . Feelings of Believing is much more than just an excellent book for specialists. It is something quite rare in this day, namely, a good book of philosophy as such. With its readable, personable style, broad-ranging survey of topics and figures, and lucid exegesis and argument, generalists will find this book as enjoyable and educational as specialists will find it insightful and provocative. Its apparently niche topic and eclectic approach should not deter the general reader. This is an outstanding book for all students and researchers of philosophy.
* Journal of the History of Philosophy *Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction: Recovering Sentimentalism
Chapter One: Feeling Disbelief: Hume's Doxastic Sentimentalism
Chapter Two: Feeling Certain and The Circle: A Sentimental Interpretation of Cartesian Clarity
Chapter Three: The Psychology of Overconfidence
Chapter Four: The Feeling of Self-Evidence: Husserlian Evidenz as Gefuhlsindex
Appendix to Chapter Four: Straw Men in Dark Times
Chapter Five: Doxasticity as Electricity: William James and the Live Hypothesis
Chapter Six: Attention and Feeling Noticed: Phenomenology and Psychology
Conclusion: Beliefy Feelings, Whence and Whither
Bibliography