Abstract:

It has been argued, justifiably, that the Enlightenment in the 18^th century is the “Age of Sensibility” when the question of emotion （largely referred to as affections, passions and feelings during this period） received unprecedented attention and inquiry in both philosophical thought and literary articulations. What are basic demands of an individual? What kind of emotion do these demands arouse? What is the historical process of such emotion? How individuals interact with the material world and the society comprised of others? All of these questions became hot topics in the Enlightenment and the core of “human science” at that time. The notion of emotion in the 18^th century contained two contradictory aspects: On the one hand, emotion is the bridge transfers the fluctuation of the body to “soul” or “mind” （according to the terms in the 18^th century）; on the other hand, it also demonstrates the conflictions between body and soul. By analyzing these two aspects of the notion of emotion in the Enlightenment, we can probe into the origin of Western modernity and its inherent paradox, understand better our own circumstances, and put forward an original scheme of the spiritual world and community life for people today against the backdrop of “modernity”, a cultural pattern that prevails in the world yet embraces great diversity.

Key words: 18^th century, Enlightenment, emotion, interdisciplinary research, subject, society