Dr Richard Firth-Godbehere – A Human History of Emotion

We like to think of humans as rational creatures, who have relied on calculation and intellect to survive. But many of the most important moments in our history had little to do with cold, hard facts and a lot to do with feelings.

In this talk, Richard draws on psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, art, and history. He vividly delves into what we currently think emotions are, illustrates how our understanding and experience of emotions has changed over time, and how our beliefs about feelings profoundly shaped us and the world we inhabit.

RICHARD FIRTH-GODBEHERE PhD, is one of the world’s leading experts on disgust and emotions. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for the History of the Emotions, Queen Mary University of London. He received a first-class degree from the University of London, during which time he won two awards for academic excellence, alongside a Masters (MPhil) from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from Queen Mary, University of London, where he was a Wellcome Trust Scholar.

His award-winning interdisciplinary research walks the line between history, psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and futurism. He examines how understandings of emotions change over time and space, and how these changes can influence the wider world.

Already translated into over twenty languages, Richard’s latest book, ‘A Human History of Emotion: How the Way We Feel Built the World We Know, is available from all good bookshops.