A semiotics of political passions

Abstract

Traditionally, at least in the philosophical field, passions have been considered harmful to the individual, they have been seen, also, as the reflection of a needy and secured life subjected to contingency. And as synonyms of instability, they have been understood, as well, as blind forces without arguments or judgments. For centuries, several philosophical trends circumscribed and reduced passions to the private sphere of individuals without a presence in public life. However, towards the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century a reassessment of the role of emotions in the public sphere becomes necessary. We will examine this topic from an interdisciplinary perspective: philosophy and semiotics.

We will talk about “political passions” because they are specific affections of a social groups. These passions are collectively expressed, they manifest themselves in the public space. Political passions possess a functionality and rationality in social life: anger, fear, hatred, outrage, or hope, have explained sociopolitical events in the history of Humanity. Political affectivities have a semiotic existence: the signs by which they are expressed, become susceptible as they are reflected upon by the theory of signs. They presents a discourse, a narrative and a syntax by their own, aspects that are evident in their performance or that turn into sign phenomena which communicate with a proper language.