Religion and the Emotions.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Hartmut von Sass
• Subject Area: Protestant Theology ; Practical Philosophy
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 468734977

Emotions matter – since without them everything would lack relevance. However, after a period of intensive research, esp. in analytic philosophies (sic!) and some areas of systematic theology, the engagement in the topic slightly declined. Our network takes up these loose ends by establishing an appropriate institutional framework for the first time in this constellation. The basic question is: Which role do play emotions within an analytic philosophy and theology of existence when it comes to issues of self-understanding, the world’s as well as subject’s disclosure and, finally, an active engagement as an expression of personal identity? This basic concern is constituted by five interrelated sub-topics. 1: What is the outlook of a general theory of emotions when oriented alongside a critically correcting discussion about cognitivism in emotion theories? 2: (How) is it possible to determine genuinely ‘religious’ emotions? 3: How are secular forms of life and religious practices related to the question of emotions’ (ir- or non-)rationality? 4: Which precise role do play (religious) emotions concerning the opening up of self and world – and how might they be covering up that ‘access’? 5: Which contribution is provided by emotions in motivational regards, as implication of one’s own identity (in faith) as well as in view of a moral and political engagement? These five constellations do not represent merely separated sub-questions; rather, they unfold a tension-filled while consistent field of research that might have fruitful effects on related scientific areas as well.This sketch amounts to the following goals of our network:• The publication of a problem-oriented volume or special issue, that is based on the above mentioned five constellations and their consistency;• Establishing a digital platform enabling to share, discuss, publish (also to a wider audience) theses, results, texts in progress;• Contributing to a ‘public’ philosophy and theology by creating our own homepage as forum for recordings of talks and presentations (via youtube channel) / a panel of debate (per clubhouse) / a podcast with, for instance, mutual interviews;• A scientific ‚start up‘: the work within / of our network might lead to follow-up projects and further research proposals.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks