Emotion and Logic

EMOTION and LOGIC

by Antonio C. Antonio

October 31, 2014

Here are some Wikipedia worldviews on the terms “emotion” and “logic”:

“In psychology and philosophy, emotion is a subjective, conscious experience characterized primarily by psychophysiological expressions, biological reactions, and mental states.  Emotion is often associated and considered reciprocally influential with mood, temperament, personality, disposition, and motivation.  It also is influenced by hormones and neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, oxytocin, cortisol and GABA.  Emotion is often the driving force behind motivation, positive or negative.  An alternative definition of emotion is a “positive or negative experience that is associated with a particular pattern of physiological activity”.

Logic is the use and study of valid reasoning.  The study of logic features most prominently in the subjects of philosophy, mathematics, and computer science.  Logic is often divided into three parts: inductive reasoning, abductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning.” (Wikipedia)

The biggest problems of environmentalism are promotion, popularization and acceptance.  Environmental advocates, activists and environmentalists in general have always used scientific evidence, data and information to promote and popularize environmentalism (defined as: a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements).  However, presenting scientific evidence, data and information has proven to be less palatable to lay and ordinary people as technical terms are truly unattractive to many. 

Incorporating logic to environmentalism, often used as a framework, is also used by some environmentalists to present and justify their cause.  But this, however, is not also largely acceptable because it only reduces environmental concerns and issues to their philosophical sense and logical sequence… still, in character, generally hard to comprehend and understand.  Some even argue that philosophy and science do not mix well.

If logic is less effective, what can then push environmentalism forward; to the point of acceptability and popularity?  This brings us to an alternative strategy that uses emotion as the catalyst to influence people’s mood, temperament, personality, disposition, and motivation.  This strategy is anchored on the fact that emotion is often the driving force behind motivation; be it positive or negative. 

All of us will agree that emotion often brings out the best in people.  Take the case of the Ateneo Volleyball team that won last UAAP championship.  The Lady Eagles were never expected to beat the Lady Spikers of De La Salle University but they did because they had enough emotional motivation from their coaching staff and school-related support system.  Another example is our Gilas Basketball Team which achieved prominence in the world basketball stage and popularized “puso” (heart) and “Laban Pilipinas” (fight Philippines)… motivational terms that brought back Philippine basketball brilliance in spite of the fact that Gilas was a perceived underdog.

Philosophers will always die by their adherence to logic as the best way to achieve anything.  Environmental causes, however, are more socio-cultural, economic and political in nature where emotion may still prove to be the more effective means by way of appealing to the emotional sense of people.  Philosophers will also agree that emotion, a motivational factor, is likewise effective.  So, how would you choose between emotion and logic?

Just my little thoughts…

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