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Anger can be seen as ‘just’, Oliver explores how anger may be essential for positive social change - so long as it doesn’t go too far.

Despite how it can be misdirected anger has long been known as the 'moral emotion' the one most likely to urge us into action in redressing some injustice or offence. But is this belief justified, or self-deluded excuse to indulge in a little payback?

Oliver explores why anger is sometimes necessary for the betterment of society, how anger can be channelled for good or evil, and he meets with meets with Martin Boyce, a veteran of the Stonewall Riots, to learn how an eruption of repressed rage can be transformed from destruction into pride.

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14 minutes

Last on

Wed 20 Mar 2019 13:45

Martin Boyce

Martin Boyce
Martin Boyce is a Stonewall Veteran, who participated in the riots that kick-started the modern LGTB rights movement.
He tells us about his experiences during the riot in June 1969, what life was like for the gay community in New York at the time, and how rage has to evolve into something more than that initial spark to create positive change in the world.

Brett Ford

Brett Ford
is an assistant professor in the psychology department at the University of Toronto and the director of the Affective Science & Health Laboratory. Her research examines the basic science and health implications of how individuals think about and manage their emotions - examining the structure of emotion beliefs and emotion regulation strategies, the cultural, biological, and psychological factors that shape these beliefs and strategies, and the implications of these beliefs and strategies for health and well-being.
She tells us about her research into ‘reappraisal’ - how people can reframe or reassess circumstances that have made them angry in order to feel better. Although it may be a useful tool for securing a person’s individual well being, there may be wider social consequences if people don’t feel the anger that can spark action.
Photo credit - Arnau Dubois.

Martha C. Nussbaum

Martha C. Nussbaum
Martha C. Nussbaum - asked for photo
is an American Philosopher and is the Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago. She’s written numerous books, including appointed Anger and Forgiveness: Resentment, Generosity, Justice and The Monarchy of Fear: A Philosopher Looks at Our Political Crisis.
She tells us about how our values are so wrapped up in our personal values and view of the world, and that although anger can have some value in the fight for justice, fury on its own is not enough.

Maya Tamir

Maya Tamir
Professor Maya Tamir isprofessor of psychology at the Hebrew University. Her research explores the instrumental functions of emotions and their role in emotion regulation. Specifically, she studies whether people know about the instrumental functions of emotions and whether they seek such functions when they regulate their emotions.
She discusses the idea of righteous anger, and how no matter how noble we think our rage may be, there’s not much

Broadcasts

  • Wed 31 Oct 2018 09:30
  • Wed 20 Mar 2019 13:45