Introduction

The idea of shared emotion is common in contemporary society, not least during the age of Covid-19. Yet defining what actually counts as shared emotion is problematic and requires elaboration. This chapter introduces current debates on shared emotion and argues that the concept of atmosphere can play a key role in contributing to this field of research. In particular, this chapter proceeds from the point of departure that a phenomenological approach to atmosphere can account for the ambiguity and complexity of atmosphere, while also attending to the ways atmosphere is structured by political and normative aspects. In addition, the chapter introduces the conceptual idea of shared emotion as it has been understood in analytical philosophy and argues that an atmospheric approach, underpinned by phenomenology, can offer an enriched account of shared emotion attentive to embodied, cultural, intentional, and affective aspects. The chapter also provides a context for the inception of the volume as well as an overview of the chapters themselves.