What do you think of this quote: “Reason is the handmaiden of emotion”?

Question

This is my paraphrase of Saint Thomas Aquinas: “Reason is the handmaiden of faith.”

I put this in Girl’s Behavior because girls are (supposedly) the ones more likely to agree with my version of the quote.

JayParris · Accepted Answer

Emotion is just a primitive form of reasoning. It comes from the more instinctive parts of the brain. Fear is the recognition of danger. Love is the recognition of mutual bonds. Jealousy is the recognition of potential loss. Respect is the recognition of wisdom.

Higher level reasoning is necessary to temper emotions and deal with situations in a socially acceptable manner.

So while Acquinas was saying that all reasoning must be consistent with faith to be valid, which I wouldn't 100% agree with anyway, I would say that reason is more like the spouse of emotion. Each enhances the other, and they work together for thre best outcome, but neither is under the other's direct control.

sawno · Accepted Answer

Reason is the handmaiden of emotion is not a phrase that clicks in my head. Am i correct in assuming that you are saying reason is linked to emotions in some form?
Because personally i find emotions unreasonable and thus only take them as advisory while preferring my own reasoning and judgement.

nerms123 · Accepted Answer

Although I often speak in terms of logic versus emotion, I actually believe the distinction is arbitrary 😊

wittymilf · Accepted Answer

I’m not intellectual enough to answer 😂

Grond21 · Answer

Thanks for tagging me. I have studied Aquinas, and he didn't actually mean that reason should be used primarily in the service of religion. In fact, I think he would completely disagree with that statement. What he meant was that true faith is not in any way opposed to logical thinking. That, when done correctly, logical reasoning is in support of faith.

He would even say, as crazy as this sounds, that when faith and reason contradict one of them is wrong. Because if God created everything and is inherently perfect, then he would have no contradictions in what he created. And therefore, the faith in God and reason, which is a tool to better understand reality, should naturally be in support of each other.

As to your quote, I would say that it's true when the emotions are aimed at something that's inherently good. But sometimes we want things that are actually bad for us. So it wouldn't be good to have reason help us achieve those things. So first you have to use reason and determine if it's a good emotion or not. If it is, go all-in. If not, redirect to something that is good and go all in on that

james2018dean · Answer

Reason is based on logic, which can still be flawed. Because even though Einstein believed "God does not play dice with the universe", his reasoning was wrong. God does play dice with the universe to create change. An imperfect program to ensure growth. Although there will be many dead ends.
It's the only real fault in his thinking, so far.
An example may be that tossing an angry dog a steak, would encourage it to be less aggressive toward you. Reasonable, logical, but not always correct.
Faith is a belief in something, maybe an idea, or even the concept of God, with no proof.
I find fault with throwing these two concepts in the same bag.
They mix as well as oil and water.
Most will notice that they in fact, repel each other.
But we are all entitled to our faith in our own opinions. Nobody has all the answers. Just the tools to help us get there.

Lightning8 · Answer

The very existence of emotion is perhaps founded on irrationality. So reason would perhaps take a more subservient or humble role in emotion, rather than dominate it. However I don't think that reason is more or less important than emotion. The context in which both are used is what's most important.

SuperManiac · Answer

I like it. I sometimes use the analogy of junk food. My emotional impulses crave gorging myself on 20 McDonald's cheeseburgers, but the reasoning side tells me I'm gonna get fat and probably not even feel all that good a few hours later. So we compromise. :-D I also sometimes think of it as short-term vs. long-term. My impulsive side (which I consider the "emotional") doesn't think about long-term consequences. It's usually wanting to do something right this instant.

Ronald_25 · Answer

I agree with your paraphrase. I think faith is the advancement of reason. Reason allows us to justify and understand what is understandable presently (like the extent of science) and faith allows us to understand things not yet discovered such as the multiverse theory.

Jjpayne · Answer

Interesting... Like talking about wisdom in the bible as it's referred to as a her. You are looking at handmaiden as a gender.. .. Interesting... Girls of faith, have reason?

DevilsAdvocator · Answer

Nonsensical. 'Faith' is nothing to do with religion- faith is the opposite of doubt. And your emotions don't have shit to do with verification of the truth, with reason.

winterfox10 · Answer

I disagree; reason and emotion are not related in any way. Emotions are not based on logic, and we can see that how people use emotion as a form of justification in arguments, in and of itself.

"I did X because I was angry about Y."

BuckWild · Answer

Holy shit, reason frees us from the shackles of religion! Like, OMG!

Internarchitect · Answer

Trying to understand. So, your thoughts proceed your emotion about something? Makes sense. Like you think about how much you like someone, before you feel like you love them?

Orangeandturquoise · Answer

I think your version is more correct, although I don't think faith can be "translated" to faith (although that wasn't your intention probably)

COMMODOREII · Answer

I think i understand what you are saying. Let me the first guy to agree. 😀

mT2359 · Answer

Reason and Emotion. Logic and Passion. Hard to agree.

soleil2666 · Answer

Yeap. Just that. Where one goes the other follows. Which leads is a matter of choice

SamtheDnDgirl · Answer

Makes total sense to me.

Sensitiveintuition · Answer

I agree with both you and the original

Exorcist_Rampage · Answer

That is usually true.

Jerre · Answer

I totally agree with the quote

inchesfrommadness · Answer

I agree with it.

Agape93 · Answer

Agreed

alexia18 · Answer

Kinda get it lol

What do you think of this quote: “Reason is the handmaiden of emotion”?

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