Affectivity and Rationality. Some Notes on the Modern Roots of the Present Time

Abstract

If modern philosophy is generally characterized by a focus on rationality, this does not detract from the fact that noteworthy reflections on various forms of affectivity are widely present in it. Vico, and in general the humanistic tradition, come to mind in this regard, but, in a different way, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, or Hume, who belong to the main line of Western thought, are no exceptions. Starting with a few examples, the paper seeks to indicate how both of these lines are constitutively present in contemporary approaches: artificial intelligence, in particular, uses the algorithmic model with regard to cognitive performance, and develops a certain affective perspective with regard to emotion-related performances.