Elinor Hållén

eh2

Elinor Hållén
Ph.D. in Philosophy

I investigate the elemental and faceted role that vulnerability plays in our self-understanding, with focus on the productive side. When vulnerability is admitted, acknowledged, articulated, and when one is in a position to act self-reflectively and purposefully rather than react defensively.

My focus is linguistic articulation and conscious-making (or awareness). I will ask: what role does vulnerability play in the conceptualization of a particular emotion or other attitude? Differently expressed, how should linguistic articulation be understood: what is the relation between language, emotion and awareness?

My investigation revolves around Sigmund Freud’s work on the difference between unconscious and conscious mental content understood as being in possession of or lacking the word. It will involve a recent debate in Anglo-American philosophy on the relation between linguistic articulation and awareness.