The Varieties of Fear Study Notes

Authors and Publication Details

  • Author: Wayne A. Davis

  • Source: Philosophical Studies: An International Journal for Philosophy in the Analytic Tradition

  • Publication Date: May 1987, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 287-310

  • Publisher: Springer

  • Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4319892

Introduction to Fear

  • Definition: The paper aims to explore what fear is, asserting that it does not have a singular answer due to its complex nature.

  • Types of Fear: "Fear" signifies various psychological states, which can often overlap or manifest in different contexts, such as:

    • Being afraid of something tangible (e.g., fear of heights)

    • Being afraid to do something (e.g., fear of speaking in public)

    • Being afraid that something will happen (e.g., fear of losing a job)

    • Being simply afraid for reasons that may not be immediately identifiable

  • Purpose of the Paper: To classify and elucidate different varieties of fear, distinguishing them from anxiety and hope, providing a deeper understanding of each type's psychological implications.

I. BASIC KINDS OF FEAR

  • Distinctions

    • Gordon's (1980) Distinction:

    1. Fearing that something is the case (propositional fear)

    2. Experiencing fear (emotional state)

  • Examples of Fear:

    • Alan may fear failing an exam without currently experiencing fear, illustrating a cognitive assessment without emotional response.

    • Kathy may fear rain without feeling immediate fear, demonstrating a predictive form of fear that influences her actions.

  • Experiential Fear: This is an occurrent emotional state characterized by physiological arousal (rapid heartbeat, sweating). It manifests when facing immediate threats or dangers.

  • Propositional Fear: Represents a mental attitude requiring a specific propositional object (expressed as "afraid that"). It involves cognitive processes that evaluate the likelihood of a feared event's occurrence.

  • Types of Fear:

    1. Fright: Immediate fear when facing imminent danger (e.g., a threat to life).

    2. Terror: Intense fear with a sense of helplessness that can lead to paralysis of action.

    3. Dread: Long-lasting fears (e.g., fear of academic failure) that do not trigger flight responses but instead create avoidance behaviors.

II. PROPOSITIONAL FEAR AND ITS COMPONENTS

  • Components of Propositional Fear:

    • Attitudinal: Involves a desire that an event does not occur, characterized by aversion to the possibility.

    • Cognitive: Encompasses uncertainty about whether a feared event will actually occur, leading to conflicted feelings.

  • Desiring and Wishing:

    • Fearing that something happens involves wishing it not to happen while grappling with uncertainty about it. Wishing for something that is not true implies certainty about that event, which contradicts fear.

  • Judgmental Aspect of Fear:

    • Emotional evaluations may differ from factual judgments about a situation. For example, a poker player fearing loss while holding four of a kind illustrates a disconnect between emotional state and logical analysis.

  • Uncertainty Type:

    • Nondeliberative Uncertainty: Essential for propositional fear, excludes mere indecision by incorporating deeper existential doubts surrounding the feared scenario.

III. PREVENTION AND VULNERABILITY AVOIDANCE

  • Behavioral Motivation: Fears influence actions, with the potential to either prevent harm or avoid vulnerability, showcasing the interplay between fear and motivation.

  • Prevention Thesis: S fears that p only if motivated to prevent it. For example, a farmer afraid it will not rain prepares for irrigation, demonstrating proactive measures based on fear.

  • Vulnerability Avoidance Thesis: S fears that p only if motivated to avoid undesirable consequences of p. In Kathy's case with rain, although she can't prevent it, her carrying an umbrella exemplifies protective behavior.

  • Causal Connection: The idea of wanting to avoid harm implies a complex relationship between fear, desire, and actions, suggesting that fear drives not just caution but a rich tapestry of preemptive actions.

IV. EXPERIENTIAL FEAR

  • Nature of Experiential Fear: Nonrelational fear without a specific object, yet it arises from specific fears that trigger emotional responses, emphasizing the varied sources of fear.

  • Symptoms of Experiential Fear:

    • Characterized by physiological signs (e.g., increased heart rate, perspiration) and other neurophysiological responses linked to fear activation.

  • Interface with Anxiety:

    • Anxiety does not equate to fear. Fear implies a perceived risk, while anxiety results from uncertainty related to anticipated outcomes, with fear often being a more immediate response.

V. REACTIVE FEAR

  • Understanding Reactive Fear: The phrase "S is afraid of NP" not only indicates propositional fear but suggests a reaction to something perceived as threatening or harmful in the immediate environment.

  • Categories of Fear and Their Relations:

    • Occurrent vs. Dispositional: Differentiates between current experiences of fear and ongoing predispositions that influence behavior over time.

  • Implications of Fear: This section suggests broad conceptualizations of how fear operates and its significant implications on human behavior, emotional well-being, and responses in diverse contexts, including social scenarios.

VI. CONCLUSION

  • Final Observations: Numerous kinds of fear exist, and emotions can be categorized in various ways. Understanding their complexities informs broader discussions on fear and its impact on human behavior, suggesting avenues for more extensive research and analysis into emotional theories and psychological practices.

NOTES

  1. The complex interplay between different emotions necessitates further detailed studies to generalize effectively about emotional theories.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • Reference to various philosophical studies, emotions research, and relevant works cited throughout the text to provide a comprehensive background for students and researchers.