Emotion or Reason?

So, let's get a little philosopher-ish, I've been browsing about earlier, and I found many threads about this, and found most of them pretty interesting. Have thought of it this time lots of times, but.. I'd like to know the opinion of some of our community members. Sides, we need to make use of this section. xD

Anyway, to the topic. First, do any of you know Plato? According to Plato here, within the Republic, the soul is formed of two parts, the inferior and superior.

Here a quote out of the Republic(Chapter XXXVII: The Effect of Dramatic Poetry on the Character) for an example:

As he states as well, we all have an impulse deep within ourselves to 'play the clown' Afterwards, he also asks:

In other words, how can it be right that we enjoy those emotions, let it take the best out of us during the play, while... we completely reject having anything to do with it in actual practice?

As Plato's entire reasoning is completely behind this. Is reason superior to emotion?

Additionally, on my part, quite amusing how his reasoning can be applied in many, many different ways.

Anywho... Discuss?

 

I'd choose reason over emotion at anytime. Humanity is driven by instinct: that something that makes us do things that we benefit after, such as eating, drinking, sleeping, even making friends and loving. Our subcounscious knows that those little things improve our life. Emotions are just part of this instinct: do now, think later. Mostly for short term actions.
I'll answer your question: it's about instinct, that's how you can do your best during the play.
Reasoning is a lot harder than feeling emotions. You can't find a reason for everything that happens around us, but you can have different feelings about those unanswered causes.

That's just what I was thinking. And one more thing: to improve your reasoning over emotions you can't just read books to find out more about anything, but to think on your own and come up with answers (that might be right or not). That's how a human can be different from the crowd.

 

I think it depends on context.

Every play its aimed to attack our senses and emotions... thats the mastercraft of the ones who perfom the play that captivates us... In a normal life situation we cant sometimes afford the luxury of cry our sorrows everywhere with the same passion because, our life requires of reason to function and keep funtioning regardless of the sorrow we are feeling... thats why I think its a contextual situation.

I also preffer reason over emotions. But one is not above the other, as species we are a rare mix between those 2.. We feel and sense what we have around us, and also we try to reason the "why" behind it.

We wont be looking at the starts wondering and seeking the reasons on how the universe manifest itself, if we werent amazed by its beauty and complexity that captivate our senses, emotions and instincts.

 

Thanks for the replies, they're quite something.

Not completely sure, but... wouldn't emotion affect your reasoning?

 

Emotion affects reasoning... a being with no emotion and all reasoning is a robot. A being with no reasoning and all emotion is insane.

Both are needed in order to be "human" and they're honestly wonderful things. I think they're best kept separate, don't let your emotions get in the way of reasoning and don't let the power to reason make you a robot.

As far as the condemning certain emotions "womanish" I found that pretty interesting. Thats only because people usually build walls around their selves in order to keep others from hurting them. If you openly admit to feeling a certain way about something that goes against the social stigma you're instantly branded. So in order to avoid that people keep their emotions to themselves. Thats also pretty cool since (as I'm sure you'll agree) once you find someone who you believe to be special enough, you let them inside that impregnable fortress and you get a wonderful relationship because you both trust the other person enough to be weak around him or her.

I think we all do feel those emotions, to a certain extent, but you can't trust everyone.

 

Of course emotions influence reasoning... the thing is, how we allow it. Our emotions are usually what boost us to go a little further in everything we do, it allows us to fully appreciate what we are doing, and how we are doing it. Usually you dont work more that you are suppose to if you dont believe or feel that what you are doing is important, you wont excel on it if it didnt have a feeling or an emotion attached to it.

Our reasoning is to look the why behind everything... our emotions is hwta make it enjoyable or desirable to spend time and energy looking those whys.

Its a balance, also... when you mix both in a singular way, you obtain something that is called imagination.

 

It does, now it depends on the person to say how much it actually affects. But it also goes the other way round. Reason does affect emotion.

 

I love this reply, good going, bro.

And, I'd suppose it's a two way street, indeed.

 

Let's go full way to reasoning. A full on reason person, isn't necesarily a robot. It's just that you can manage your emotions through reasoning, like loving someone: if you love him/her and your reasoning tells you don't stande a chance then that person will listen to his reasoning, rather than feeling. If that's better, I don't know.