Dewey’s Concept of Experience

In order to better understand the proposed Layered Theory of emotions, one may benefit from understanding how Dewey’s concept of experience is what ultimately gives rise to a situated approach to emotions, which in turn enables raising the theoretical hypothesis put forward. The hope is that the Layered Theory of emotions does not depend on taking up Dewey’s philosophical work and that is can be sustained within other philosophical frameworks. Yet, for considering the hypothesis it is helpful to understand how Dewey’s philosophical work prompts it. This chapter will lay down some of the crucial elements of Dewey’s philosophical work with it reconstruction of experience and the following one will show how a situated approach to emotions arises from the reconceptualization of experience.