Emotions vs. Reason - Galt's Gulch

Remove this ad.

5

Emotions vs. Reason

Posted by khalling 11 years, 4 months ago to Politics

5 comments | Share | Flag

What happens to a society when the majority believe that emotions are superior to reason in deciding courses of action?
Even here, in the Gulch, we see the power of emotion over reason. So I thought I'd post a Rand reboot

SOURCE URL: http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/emotions.html

Add Comment

All Comments Hide marked as read Mark all as read

2

Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 4 months ago

Thanks khalling,
Emotion is a last resort. Reason/ knowledge must always take precedence. I have read all of these excerpts from the original sources. I have recently purchased the Lexicon! What a handy book! All the pertinent most poignant excerpts in one collection! It is a real time-saver and a great source for those of us without total recall.
Regards,
O.A.

Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink
- 2
  
  Posted by jmlesniewski 11 years, 4 months ago
  
  Emotion is not a last resort. It is an immediate response to a situation.
  
  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink
  - 1
    
    Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 4 months ago
    
    Hello jmlesniewski,
    I agree. My point is that while it is an “immediate response” it is not prudent to react to it impulsively without using your reason to deduce whether there are more rational choices to consider. When all reason and knowledge have been considered and no clear conclusion can be drawn, then, and only then, should one consider an emotional/ gut reaction to determine course of action.
    Regards,
    O.A.
    
    Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink
  - 1
    
    Posted by khalling 11 years, 4 months ago
    
    but not always the best response. I am not invalidating an emotional response to a situation. but what tools are you pulling out to handle a crisis? If your first tool is emotion, I'm not probably going to pick to be on your team. :)
    
    Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink
    - 1
      
      Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 4 months ago
      
      It's true, that one must look to reason and logic to clearheadedly manage a crisis situation. It's the reason I didn't give into my daughter's panic last Friday, when her school went into Code Blue lockdown. I explained that there was not a direct threat to their school, that there were police stationed outside and inside her school, and no one was going in or out. She calmed down because I was calm and rational. It did not mean, however, that I was not emotional about the situation, or without feelings whatsoever, or didn't grieve. It's that I needed to be clearheaded for my children.
      
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink

Comment hidden.