Do you think that logic and emotion are opposites? Can a person be both logical and emotional? Or neither?

[CubsterShura]

Looking forward to some wise opinions. Maybe I'll write a myTake later to share my own thoughts. :)

[AlphaGhost]

I had no idea, we have legions of philosophers on this site but this is my humble opinion.

I believe it's impossible to classify them as either "opposite or complementary" cuz it depends upon the situation. Both are absolutely necessary for human survival, emotions are one of the primitive things that makes genus "Homo" superior to other living species. While on the other hand, logic/ability to think is needed to stop us from becoming mindless zombies' or slaves to our basic instincts/emotions.

I have this wired theory that, emotions are kind of like "data or default instinct" of how a person is supposed to behave and logic is a processor, which works on these data points to separate wrong from right, both of these are co-dependent on each-other. Logic needs data to process/work, and emotions are nothing without processing required to separate them from each other.

We need both to thrive as human beings, always following your emotions is bad cuz they change according to situations and too much logic will lead to person becoming cold hearted killers... hence logic is like a processing technology which uses data-set of understandable emotions to give an answer.

[Lliam]

I wouldn't say they are opposites, but they are very different.

There is no getting around the fact that humans (and all other living creatures) have emotions - apprehension, fear, joy, happiness, contentment. But humans are way more complex.

Emotions are automatic and instantaneous. Some are pleasurable and some can signal danger. Sometimes, as in the case of phobias, for example, they are irrational. So you can't flat out trust your emotions without logical analysis.

Emotions can also be manipulated. People are constantly manipulated by the media into believing things without question. Religion does the same thing. I prefer to have opinions as opposed to beliefs, because beliefs are based on emotion while opinions are logical and can be adjusted as more information becomes available.

Emotions are valuable and wonderful, but they can cloud or even defy logic. So it's important to embrace our emotions but to also keep a clear head and use our ability to reason.

[purplepoppy]

Evolution would not have created or maintained emotions if it did not have a logical function.
When men claim to be making a logical decision often they have already made up their minds via emotion and are now using their version logic to justify it. Ever noticed how abusers always claim their being logical.

Humans have a far wider scope of emotions than animals, emotions are the product of intelligence.

[Preeti161101]

Both are different but yes person can be emotional and logical

[aaron210419]

There is a time and place for logic and emotion, living your life entirely based on either may not be the best idea.
If you purely make decisions based on emotions you may find that life is full of anxiety since emotions change with each situation and emotions are not based in fact you may also find yourself making bad decisions or missing out on experiences/opportunities simply because you "had a gut feeling" and you risk looking unstable, narcissistic, or even bipolar at the extreme end of the spectrum. Emotions are good when it comes to expressing yourself creatively through art, writing, etc. and when trying to put yourself in other people's shoes.
Those that solely base their decisions on logic may avoid some of the drama that those emotionally driven people might face but then you risk coming off as cold or in extreme cases psychopathic if you are unable to express empathy for others.
I think the best way to look at the world is with logic and emotion, use both sides of your brain and try to see things from others perspective while sticking to the facts, for the most part this will benefit you and those around you the best.

[jshm2]

One has little to do with the other, kiddo. You're comparing apples to oranges.

Cold logical people can also be cold hearted killers. On the flip side, warm and friendly people can "break," and kill someone.

Logic is very limited in application as it can only process what is understandable- and not what is unquantifiable. Hence logic is prone to paradox. It's why academics and airheads often fall, and fall hard, in living real life and mingling with society.

Emotions on the other hand can also lead one down the wrong path. There is no "processing" just reaction, and it's often overreaction being the only reaction.

[CubsterShura]

I'm not a kiddo, I'm 21. Just because you're a lot older than me doesn't mean that you get to infantilize me.

[Still-alive]

eh i wouldn't say they are opposites but they can sometimes work against each other.

what you really want though is to think through your emotions logically so as to not overreact to things. such as 'oh if i fail this class im a failure of a human being' you can change that into 'if i fail this class then i can try again later... or switch to a new major'

you know think through things that initially petrify you or make you feel vulnerable. these are things i learned over the years. takes practics

[Weapon77]

No, they are not opposites at all. There can be overlap where our reasoning involves both at once. However, emotion often clouds logic, and logic often blocks emotion, so they can conflict also. It's like buoyancy and surface tension aren't directly opposing forces, but too much buoyancy can't break surface tension and sink, while too little buoyancy cannot break surface tension from below and float on top. I'd say surface tension is like logic, with buoyancy being like emotion. Too much emotion without logic and you can never explore the depths, but too much logic without enough emotion and you drown.

[Weapon77]

For instance, women tend have emotion and logic tied togerher and have a hard time separating them, while men are great at separating emotion from logic. This is nornally a healthy balance when men and women are in couples and/or work together in other situations. But the extreme variations are men who do awful things because they are "logical" and women doing awful things because they're feelings were hurt.

[ChiTown33]

I wouldn't say they're opposite but emotion has a way of sabotaging logic. Luckily I have a very analytical mind so regardless of whatever the problem I'm almost always able to take my self out of the emotional side of it and JUST look at it logically. This is beneficial for problem solving. But human beings are emotional people and while I also have become much more adept over the years about reading people's emotion. One thing I've never become accustomed to is people's lies. So many people say one thing and do another. In fact deception is so pervasive in society I find it much easier to assume people are lying to when they're speaking to me.

[Grond21]

No, I do not think they are even slightly opposites. They are complimentary. And I wrote the below when I was speaking to my sister a few days ago about women's emotions being irrational. I thought I would just copy it here rather than rewrite it.



It's not the emotions are irrational, it's that emotions are not always based on the same set of inputs that rational thought is. But when you account for those inputs every emotion makes perfect sense. They fit together, they flow in a reasonable way, and they are understandable.
And once you do that, you can say that women have an intuition, and ability to innately understand which is honestly more in line with an Angelic way of understanding.
Then you combine them, and you can see that women's emotional life is very reasonable and rational, and has a set of inputs that the man often does not

[hafinjun]

An excellent question captain as you know I strived all my life to achieve whatever it is they total logic and he's a little bead thing hang on your uniform yeah I like all that crap anyway having totally removed emotions from my life I'm much calmer now I don't have to put up with these buzos who think logic's just something you used when arguments I can't handle logic get out of the kitchen I say stupid a holes ( hold the hand with my index and forefinger split ) live long and stay the f*** out of my way
Walks off to the shuttlecraft muttering about humans

[lightbulb27]

not sure about opposite, but different.

Emotion is definitely.. quicker. What is VERY important is stored as emotion and instantaneous. What takes longer to process, is logic... understanding.

Just read a book on emotion, very interesting...:)

Funny enough I just to spend all my effort on logic... non stop, all day logic. Now I put most of my effort into emotion, understanding it.

[SnowedIn]

I don't think they're opposites. They complement each other. And, yes, someone can have both, or some of each, or be dramatically on one or the other side. A person can make a logical decision while still feeling passionately emotional about it. And vice versa. But not opposites and one doesn't have to exist without the other.

[ibodi]

You can read Immanuel Kant. emotions are goals logic help to achieve it. read it you knew how European's random thought at that time under religion. so he clean it up from meta to practice in reality. that is different from American give up it so American would do everything to achieve goals that is contemptible

[ibodi]

he is called western Shakyamuni

[loveslongnails]

Logic is an inflexible discipline that conforms to specific principles of both inference and deduction and seeks validity.
All "A"'s are "B"'s
All "B"s are "C"s, therefore
All "A"'s are "C"s.

Emotions are reactionary and don't seem to adhere to any kind of principled order, so I'd say they're opposite in nature.

[Part2603]

Google "straw vulcan". Specifically Julia Galef's take on the trope, she does a really good presentation on how Hollywood really doesn't understand rationality at all.

[madgoat]

I think everyone is both emotional and logical. Some have more of a bias one way or another.
The different aspects of their personality come out at different times, and different situations.

[Massageman]

If you write that, check out right brain/left brain theories.

They are not "polar opposites" as are hot and cold, etc. Emotion can cloud logic, and logic can literally block access to emotion.

[dragoblack]

Yes, you can be both logical and emotional. Empathy uses both logic and emotion. But sometimes emotion can overpower logic and vis versa. It all depends on will power of how much control you have

[Alex8736]

it depends on the situation, people sometimes have a habit of falsely accusing others to see someones reactions for example testing someones boundaries

[es20490446e]

Every though starts with an emotion. Hence any logic is always partly emotional.

[msc545]

These things influence each other. Logic can create and influence emotions, and emotions can distort logic.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

They’re not opposites and it’s possible to be both.

[shortster]

They are opposites. You can be both; just not at the same time.