Single Idea 7408

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 1. Acting on Desires]

Full Idea

Hobbes (and Descartes, and many contemporaries) argued that the traditional idea that reason should control the passions was an error, and that (properly understood) our emotions would guide us in the right direction.

Gist of Idea

It is an error that reason should control the passions, which give right guidance on their own

Source

report of Thomas Hobbes (The Elements of Law [1640]) by Richard Tuck - Hobbes Ch.2

Book Reference

Tuck,Richard: 'Hobbes: a very short introduction' [OUP 2002], p.65


A Reaction

I'm an intellectualist on this one. It strikes me as rather naïve and romantic to think that unthinking emotion could ever consistently approach what is right. A recipe for disaster.