*The phrase “rational emotion” would probably be very misleading in a casual conversation or an argument, and you might have to go to great lengths to explain what it means.
*I suspect the Spock meme is so problematic because it implies that emotion clouds rational judgment (which is true) but goes on to assert that “rational” people need to purge themselves of emotions. When people hear the former, they complete the pattern and think of the latter. As Eliezer points out, there’s no reason why we should purge emotions that follow from beliefs.
“Emotions should be based on facts. (Pause for exclamation) If you feel afraid of touching the stove, and the stove is hot, then you should feel afraid. If you feel afraid of touching the stove, and the stove is cold, then you shouldn’t feel afraid. Facts, determining your emotions.”
This won’t work on anyone inclined to question what “should” means, though, but it doesn’t trip nearly as many alarm bells as saying “the Way”.
I don’t find this anti-Spock argument very convincing. If the stove is hot, you just shouldn’t touch it, there’s really no reason to be afraid. Emotions were useful because they elicited the appropriate behaviour in the hunter-gatherer environment, but now we can simply manage, barring extreme situations, to do the proper things.
You can clearly point at rational behaviours and distinguish them from irrational ones, and you can call ‘rational’ an emotion which induces the rational behaviour. But that doesn’t mean that the emotions, per se, are necessary to that effect.
A spock can really functions as a proper and winning rationalist… but we, of course, are no vulcanians.
Some comments:
*The phrase “rational emotion” would probably be very misleading in a casual conversation or an argument, and you might have to go to great lengths to explain what it means.
*I suspect the Spock meme is so problematic because it implies that emotion clouds rational judgment (which is true) but goes on to assert that “rational” people need to purge themselves of emotions. When people hear the former, they complete the pattern and think of the latter. As Eliezer points out, there’s no reason why we should purge emotions that follow from beliefs.
I have found some success explaining it thus:
“Emotions should be based on facts. (Pause for exclamation) If you feel afraid of touching the stove, and the stove is hot, then you should feel afraid. If you feel afraid of touching the stove, and the stove is cold, then you shouldn’t feel afraid. Facts, determining your emotions.”
This won’t work on anyone inclined to question what “should” means, though, but it doesn’t trip nearly as many alarm bells as saying “the Way”.
I don’t find this anti-Spock argument very convincing. If the stove is hot, you just shouldn’t touch it, there’s really no reason to be afraid. Emotions were useful because they elicited the appropriate behaviour in the hunter-gatherer environment, but now we can simply manage, barring extreme situations, to do the proper things.
You can clearly point at rational behaviours and distinguish them from irrational ones, and you can call ‘rational’ an emotion which induces the rational behaviour. But that doesn’t mean that the emotions, per se, are necessary to that effect.
A spock can really functions as a proper and winning rationalist… but we, of course, are no vulcanians.
Is there an anti-Spock argument you do find convincing?