ABSTRACT
J. P. Sartre was inspired by Edmund Husserl to pursue an explanation of the role of consciousness, and in particular of its structure, in generating the experience of a meaningful world. Sartre applies Husserl’s insight onto the specific case of the emotions. Sartre argues that the phenomenological method avoids the mistakes of the introspectionist psychologist by elucidating the conditions that render an emotion meaningful precisely as an emotion. The strategy Sartre employs to critically assess opposing theories of emotion involves his praising what he deems to be of value while rejecting what he deems to be inaccurate. Sartre then moves onto Pierre Janet’s theory of the emotions. Sartre argues that Janet improves on James’ theory in providing us with a first, albeit ultimately unsatisfactory, step toward capturing the significance of emotions. Sartre then moves onto Guillaume’s adoption of Gestalt psychology and praises it for its effort, albeit also ultimately unsatisfactory, to capture the finality of the emotions.
