{Reason and Emotion}[31st March 1971]

[Redbook1:200-201][19710331b]{Reason and Emotion}[31st March 1971]

31.03.71. [continued]

            You have to look at the other side and say: if I had been born there, would I do as they do?  And would I do as I do?  If the answer to that last question is no, then your beliefs are based on emotion and not reason, and you should look very carefully at them.

            Not that emotion is wrong -- far from it.  Pure reason is unusual and rather frightening.  Emotion is the product of instinct, largely, and instinct is a good servant: modify its conclusions with reason and you may arrive at something resembling common sense.  You are unlikely to arrive at it any other way, unless you are one of the few lucky ones whose instinct is common sense.

            Oh yes, there is a quality which helps, a kind of catalyst to reason and emotion, and that is imagination.

            Emotion alone is indescribable: perhaps it is a kind of madness.  Emotion as master controlling the voices of reason and not modified by them, can be subtle and dangerous.  Pure reason is claimed by many who do not and will not ever wield it: it is deceptive, claiming utter truth, and hates men.  It is cold.

            Let emotion show you the road and reason guide you up on it; but do not carelessly allow reason to change your road, nor emotion your speed upon it.  Is this a valid parallel?  I distrust it!  Perhaps for emotion I should say instinct direct; but there something is lost.

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