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Single Idea 23947
[filed under theme 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / f. Emotion and reason
]
Full Idea
To divide the soul into reason and passion …divides us against ourselves, forcing us each to be defensively half a person, instead of a harmonious whole.
Gist of Idea
Dividing ourselves into confrontational reason and passion destroys our harmonious whole
Source
Robert C. Solomon (The Passions [1976], 2.3)
Book Ref
Solomon,Robert C.: 'The Passions (1993 ed)' [Hackett 1993], p.58
A Reaction
This is the best aspect of Solomon's book. I'm not sure, though, how this works in practice. Should I allow the winds of emotion to alter the course of my reasoning, or stunt my feelings by always insisting that reason plays a part? That's too dualist!
The
26 ideas
from Robert C. Solomon
23942
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Philosophy is creating an intellectual conceptual structure for life
[Solomon]
|
23943
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Distinguishing reason from passion is based on an archaic 'faculty' theory
[Solomon]
|
23945
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Reason is actually passions, guided by perspicacious reflection
[Solomon]
|
23944
|
Emotions are our life force, and the source of most of our values
[Solomon]
|
23946
|
The passions are subjective, concerning what is important to me, rather than facts
[Solomon]
|
23940
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Emotions are strategies for maximising our sense of dignity and self-esteem
[Solomon]
|
23936
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It is only our passions which give our lives meaning
[Solomon]
|
23937
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It is reason which needs the anchorage of passions, rather than vice versa
[Solomon]
|
23941
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'Absurdity' is just the result of our wrong choices in life
[Solomon]
|
23947
|
Dividing ourselves into confrontational reason and passion destroys our harmonious whole
[Solomon]
|
23949
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Passions exist as emotions, moods and desires, which all generate meaning
[Solomon]
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23948
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Wisdom needs both thought and passion, with each reflecting on the other
[Solomon]
|
23952
|
I say bodily chemistry and its sensations have nothing to do with emotions
[Solomon]
|
23953
|
Feeling is a superficial aspect of emotion, and may be indeterminate, or even absent
[Solomon]
|
23954
|
Emotions are judgements about ourselves, and our place in the world
[Solomon]
|
23955
|
Ideologies are mythologies which guide our actions
[Solomon]
|
23958
|
The supposed irrationality of our emotions is often tactless or faulty expression of them
[Solomon]
|
23957
|
We often trust our intuitions as rational, despite their lack of reflection
[Solomon]
|
23956
|
The Myth of the Passions says they are irrational, uncontrolled and damaging
[Solomon]
|
23959
|
Some emotions are externally directed, others internally
[Solomon]
|
23963
|
Which emotions we feel depends on our sense of our own powers
[Solomon]
|
23960
|
Emotions are defined by their objects
[Solomon]
|
23961
|
The heart of an emotion is its judgement of values and morality
[Solomon]
|
23962
|
Lovers adopt the interests of their beloved, rather than just valuing them
[Solomon]
|
23965
|
Emotions can be analysed under fifteen headings
[Solomon]
|
23964
|
There are no 'basic' emotions, only socially prevalent ones
[Solomon]
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