Single Idea 23999

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / g. Controlling emotions]

Full Idea

To some extent our emotions cannot be controlled. But to say that we are not responsible for our emotions is to ignore the possibility of educating them over time, so that, ideally, our responses come to be consonant with deliberated rational choices.

Gist of Idea

Emotional control is hard, but we are responsible for our emotions over long time periods

Source

Peter Goldie (The Emotions [2000], 4 'Education')

Book Reference

Goldie,Peter: 'The Emotions' [OUP 2002], p.12


A Reaction

So people go on anger management courses, or talk through crises with councellors. This idea describes most people correctly, but some are in the grips of passions which seem impossible to control.