The author presents Peirce’s approach to the emotions in general as a version of cognitivism (whatever else human emotions are, they are in effect judgments and, as such, might be mistaken); and, then, explores how feelings of self-regard, a specific range of social emotions, are illuminated by this approach. Even before sketching this cognitivist account of human emotions, however, he outlines Peirce’s theory of semiosis (i.e., sign-action or –process) in which the account of emotions must be situated in order to be properly understood. At the conclusion, the author, drawing upon insights from Dewey and Cavell, highlights the political salience of self-regard and especially the disastrous effects of disregarded selves for instituting effective forms of democratic deliberation and debate.