Hostname: page-component-77f85d65b8-lfk5g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-03-27T17:26:23.479Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Contempt as the absence of appraisal, not recognition, respect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2017

Michelle Mason
Michelle Mason*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455. mason043@umn.edu https://michellemasonphilosophy.wordpress.com/
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Gervais & Fessler's defense of a sentiment construct for contempt captures features distinguishing the phenomenon from basic emotions and highlights the fact that it comprises a coordinated syndrome of responses. However, their conceptualization of contempt as the absence of respect equivocates. Consequently, a “dignity” culture that prescribes respect does not thereby limit legitimate contempt in the manner the authors claim.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e243
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Bell, M. (2013) Hard Feelings: The moral psychology of contempt. Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Darwall, S. L. (1977) Two kinds of respect. Ethics 88(1):36–49.Google Scholar
Darwall, S. L. (2004) Respect and the second-person standpoint. Proceedings and Addresses of the American Philosophical Association 78:43–59.Google Scholar
Frie, J. R. & Shaver, P. (2002) Respect in close relationships: Prototype definition, self-report assessment, and initial correlates. Personal Relationships 9(2):121–39.Google Scholar
Frijda, N. H. (1986) The emotions. Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Gottman, J. M. & Levenson, R. W. (1992) Marital processes predictive of later dissolution: Behavior, physiology, and health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 63(2):221–33.Google Scholar
Kant, I. (1786/2012) Groundwork of the metaphysics of morals, revised edition, trans. Gregor, M., rev. Timmermann, J.. Cambridge University Press. (Original work published in 1786).Google Scholar
Mason, M. N. (2003) Contempt as a moral attitude. Ethics 113(2):234–72.Google Scholar
Mason, M. N. (2014) Reactivity and refuge. In: Oxford studies in agency and responsibility, vol. 2, ed. Shoemaker, D. & Tognazzini, N., pp. 143–62. Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roseman, I. (1984) Cognitive determinants of emotions: A structural theory. Personality and Social Psychology Review 5:11–36.Google Scholar
Strawson, P. F. (1962) Freedom and resentment. Proceedings of the British Academy 48:1–25.Google Scholar