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The concept that emotions are irrational is itself irrational. They are a physiologic reaction to environmental conditions that is a byproduct of untold generat
by kingkawn 7y ago
The concept that emotions are irrational is itself irrational. They are a physiologic reaction to environmental conditions that is a byproduct of untold generations of evolutionary development. To dismiss them out of hand for the sake of deifying a comparatively infant-like intellectual culture is not reasonable. Emotions are Us, not some inconvenient creature to squash for the greater good.
- saint_fiasco 7y agoA common mistake (those who see themselves as) clever people make is that they believe that if you win an argument, you are correct. That's why when a person is upset and has a hard time expressing themselves, or when an old person struggles to explain the importance of some traditional custom to a new generation, people tend to automatically dismiss them. We often care more about winning arguments than about finding truth.
- jacobmoe 7y ago> A common mistake (those who see themselves as) clever people make is that they believe that if you win an argument, you are correct. You contradict this later by saying "We often care more about winning arguments than about finding truth." This is right - it's not that people think that winning the argument means they're correct, it's just that it feels good to win an argument. Winning does matter more than finding the true. Why? Feelings. Feelings govern everything. Life would literally have no meaning without the feeling tones that give it meaning.
- saint_fiasco 7y agoSure, but even total hedonists believe that sometimes you have to not spend everything you have on candy, sacrificing immediate pleasure so you can eat more total candy in the long run. We should also resist the temptation of declaring victory in a discussion and instead listen carefully to what irrational, emotional, even inarticulate people have to say.