ABSTRACT
Some philosophers have proposed what could be called a “unified theories of racism”. According to these theories, all forms of racism are reducible to one thing: for instance, race-based hatred or contempt. Faucher is not convinced by the possibility or the interest of unified theories of racism. This chapter explores an approach to racism that bears a family resemblance to the one mentioned above. The theory in question, which can be called “emotional theory of racism”, distinguishes different forms of racism through the kind of emotions that dominate the attitude one has towards individuals or groups based on their assigned race. The author’s aim is to oppose the view that racism expresses or emanates from one (or two) emotion(s), typically “hate” (and/or contempt), or one attitude, typically “malevolence” or “disregard”. As against this view, the chapter suggests that racism results from or involves many different types of emotions and therefore can take different forms depending on the emotion that dominates one’s attitude towards members of a racialized group (or the racialized group as such).
