kingdingeling Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Got my Theory of Knowledge essay due tomorrow for my IB, this is the final draft, and I'm really stuck here! The question is a follows: Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions? I argued that reason was more important, as most it is the more rational approach, however my teacher put in the comments that I went way too far. I read the essay again and found that I was basically saying "we could leave all our decision to emotionless beings (e.g. computers) and we'd be fine". Ok, obviously I didn't say it that way, but I went wayyy too far So, right now I have the problem of providing counterclaims, meaning that there needs to be some argument against what I wrote, which I then need to prove wrong. As I am rewriting the essay right now, my approach might (should) change, but if you guys have any take on this, please post Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerm Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Your teacher is right. Using emotion as well as reason to make decisions is what makes us human, otherwise we would just be an organic machine. If you make decisions solely on reason then what happens if the data you derive your reasonable decision from is flawed. That is why we must have a balanced decision making of reason and emotion. Ok, I know that was just me rambling on and probably doesn't help you one bit, but I just got done taking a big morning crap and I am still a little light-headed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
exeter_acres Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 depends if they are hot or not Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
suchuwato Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Using emotion as well as reason to make decisions is what makes us human, otherwise we would just be an organic machine. The human brain has a finite amount of neurons, and exists for a limited amount of time, therefore there can only be a finite number of states (brain composition over time). At any given time the brain will produce a response that is appropriate for the input and processing conditions. Therefore at any given point in time the brain of an individual will only produce the same output (if in an identical parallel universe for example the response would be the same) thus meaning emotion, reason, etc... are all one and the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrewr05 Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Ok, I know that was just me rambling on and probably doesn't help you one bit, but I just got done taking a big morning crap and I am still a little light-headed. I agree, while sentient mindless beings can do day to day chores or many other complex tasks they do it exactly that way; MINDLESSLY. Take for instance a honey bee, we don't think of them as a mechanical mindless being but think about it, every single day they have a task and its completed exactly the same way every day (obviously minute things change in their surroundings and other things effect the outcome) Emotion in humans and other animals is quite apparent. Lets say you walk to work every day (and for sake of this argument you're single) but you see a good looking girl down the road a bit, it would be emotion that would drive you to take a different path then you're used to just to walk closer to the girl. Lets say you walk to work every day but you you see something down the road that you have a phobia of, emotion would cause you to steer clear of that "thing" Emotion can cause many things, would you be more likely to help a family in need if you saw what condition they were in vs. just having someone ask for help on the street and not knowing if they need it? Chances are yes, you would get an emotion tie with the predicament that they are in and you'd be more willing to help out. A mindless being on the other hand (assuming that it had this technology) would have to analyze the persons speech to tell whether they were lying and then even after seeing the situation would not be susceptible to any emotion over the matter. and stuff... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
exeter_acres Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 The human brain has a finite amount of neurons, and exists for a limited amount of time, therefore there can only be a finite number of states (brain composition over time). At any given time the brain will produce a response that is appropriate for the input and processing conditions. Therefore at any given point in time the brain of an individual will only produce the same output (if in an identical parallel universe for example the response would be the same) thus meaning emotion, reason, etc... are all one and the same. Wow!! I used to go to Grateful Dead concerts too!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
suchuwato Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Wow!! I used to go to Grateful Dead concerts too!!! Yeah! Hang on... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
road-runner Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Wow!! I used to go to Grateful Dead concerts too!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingdingeling Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 Ok, I know that was just me rambling on and probably doesn't help you one bit, but I just got done taking a big morning crap and I am still a little light-headed. First off, I'm actually quite surprised as to how much response this question generated! :thumbs-up: I agree with you suchuwato, however I need to fill at least 1200 words, so I have to elaborately discribe why it is a mix of the two. I think I'll take up Andrews example of what emotion does, that should provide a good base of discussion. As a counterclaim, I guess I could say that reason will tell you to take the direct way, so you don't waste any time. @ exeter: what? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
road-runner Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 @ exeter: what? I think exeter has Psychedelic confused with Psychology... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingdingeling Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 No, I meant his first post Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
suchuwato Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 No, I meant his first post One could infer a number of things Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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