Emotions and Community: An Ontological Account

Emotions are intrinsically linked to our forms of life-the unique, shared ways of being and acting that shape our identity.

This book redefines emotions as embodied actions, rather than mere internal states. By taking an ontological approach, Daniel Rueda Garrido explores how fundamental emotions like joy, fear, love, and anger are woven into the fabric of our communities, influencing who we are and how we interact with one another. Moving beyond traditional psychology and naturalism, this approach reveals that these emotions are not just internal experiences, but essential expressions of our collective, self-imposed ways of living within a community. Rueda’s exploration offers a deeper understanding of self-consciousness and challenges traditional ways of thinking about emotional existence. It reveals the profound connection between feeling, action, and belonging.

Daniel Rueda Garrido teaches philosophy at Colegio San José, Málaga, Spain.