The Philosophy of Fear
Historical and Interdisciplinary Approaches
Published on 13. November 2025
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-6669-4568-3 (ISBN)
Description
Philosophers reflect on the significance of fear both in the history of Eastern and Western Philosophy and at the intersections of contemporary philosophy and other disciplines.
The collection, edited by Ami Harbin, is divided into two parts. Part I begins with reflections on the centrality of fear in Confucian ethical-political thought and in the ancient Greek philosophy of Aristotle, before turning to the reflections on fear in medieval and twentieth-century philosophy. Part II presents contemporary philosophical work that expands the variety of approaches to fear, building connections with work in cognitive science, neuroscience, psychiatry, developmental psychology, and U. S. history.
Fear as an emotion-though always present in the history of philosophy, and one of the key points of contact between philosophy and other empirically-informed disciplines-has received surprisingly little concerted attention within philosophy. This is the first collection from contemporary philosophers with the express goal of reflecting on fear in the history of philosophy and collecting perspectives on fear from philosophers engaged in interdisciplinary research.
The collection, edited by Ami Harbin, is divided into two parts. Part I begins with reflections on the centrality of fear in Confucian ethical-political thought and in the ancient Greek philosophy of Aristotle, before turning to the reflections on fear in medieval and twentieth-century philosophy. Part II presents contemporary philosophical work that expands the variety of approaches to fear, building connections with work in cognitive science, neuroscience, psychiatry, developmental psychology, and U. S. history.
Fear as an emotion-though always present in the history of philosophy, and one of the key points of contact between philosophy and other empirically-informed disciplines-has received surprisingly little concerted attention within philosophy. This is the first collection from contemporary philosophers with the express goal of reflecting on fear in the history of philosophy and collecting perspectives on fear from philosophers engaged in interdisciplinary research.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
5 tables; 1 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
524 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6669-4568-3 (9781666945683)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2025
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€90.99
Available for download
E-Book
09/2025
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic USA
€90.99
Available for download
Person
Ami Harbin is associate professor of philosophy and women and gender studies at Oakland University
Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Fear in the Philosophical Archives and Beyond, by Ami Harbin
Part I: Fear in the History of Philosophy
Chapter 1. Fear in Early Confucian Thought, by Lok Chui Choo
Chapter 2. Fear and Courage in Early Confucianism, by Songyao Ren
Chapter 3. Aristotle on Fear's Contributions to the Virtue of Courage, by Andrew Culbreth
Chapter 4. Do the Brave Master Their Fears - or Avoid them? By Lawrence Lengbeyer
Chapter 5. Moderating Fear After Trauma?: An Aristotelian Analysis, by Lily M. Abadal
Chapter 6. Anselm on Fear, Duty, and Moral Motivation, by Parker Haratine
Chapter 7. Fear As a Reactive Attitude, by Robert Pal-Wallin
Part II: Interdisciplinary Insights on Fear
Chapter 8. Reasons for Fear: Against the Reactive Theory of Emotion, by Rodrigo Diaz and Christine Tappolet
Chapter 9. Fear as Preventer, by Timothy R. Kearl and Robert H. Wallace
Chapter 10. Art-Horror, Social Anxiety, and the Moral Imagination, by Saraliza Anzaldua
Chapter 11. Fear and Motivated Reasoning: Lessons from the Satanic Panic, by Guy Crain
Chapter 12. Biased Fear: Implicit Bias, Responsibility and Emotion, by Kris Goffin
Chapter 13. Fear, Pathology, and Feelings of Agency: Lessons from Ecological Fear, by Charlie Kurth and Panu Pihkala
Chapter 14. The Fear of Having Wasted One's Life, by Christopher Cowley
About the Contributors
Introduction: Fear in the Philosophical Archives and Beyond, by Ami Harbin
Part I: Fear in the History of Philosophy
Chapter 1. Fear in Early Confucian Thought, by Lok Chui Choo
Chapter 2. Fear and Courage in Early Confucianism, by Songyao Ren
Chapter 3. Aristotle on Fear's Contributions to the Virtue of Courage, by Andrew Culbreth
Chapter 4. Do the Brave Master Their Fears - or Avoid them? By Lawrence Lengbeyer
Chapter 5. Moderating Fear After Trauma?: An Aristotelian Analysis, by Lily M. Abadal
Chapter 6. Anselm on Fear, Duty, and Moral Motivation, by Parker Haratine
Chapter 7. Fear As a Reactive Attitude, by Robert Pal-Wallin
Part II: Interdisciplinary Insights on Fear
Chapter 8. Reasons for Fear: Against the Reactive Theory of Emotion, by Rodrigo Diaz and Christine Tappolet
Chapter 9. Fear as Preventer, by Timothy R. Kearl and Robert H. Wallace
Chapter 10. Art-Horror, Social Anxiety, and the Moral Imagination, by Saraliza Anzaldua
Chapter 11. Fear and Motivated Reasoning: Lessons from the Satanic Panic, by Guy Crain
Chapter 12. Biased Fear: Implicit Bias, Responsibility and Emotion, by Kris Goffin
Chapter 13. Fear, Pathology, and Feelings of Agency: Lessons from Ecological Fear, by Charlie Kurth and Panu Pihkala
Chapter 14. The Fear of Having Wasted One's Life, by Christopher Cowley
About the Contributors