Logic v Emotion

[The Hammer]

So, me and my wife were having a conversation the other night, and came to the conclusion that we both tend to process information slightly differently.

When I engage in a topic of interest/discussion, I allow emotion to take front and center, and temper that emotion with sound logic/reasoning. My wife on the other says that she starts with logic and reasoning when approaching a discussion, but tempers its [logics] coldness by inserting emotion to color it.

How do you process information? Does emotion rule you, or does logic and reasoning. Do you equally employ both? How does this affect you?

Bonus Question: Does this have any influence on your spirituality?

 

[Thief]

an unbridled heart is fickle

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I guess I'm gifted at being unusually smart in some, not all, areas. Social skills isn't really one of them. Looking at the circuitry of a computer Graphics Processing Unit chip and telling you what each part is and what it might do, is. As well as not needing to use a calculator often.

I tend to use an immediate layer of emotion before using logic.

The thing is though, using empathy, emotion, etc tends to get in the way of my critical thinking, but if I just let my brain process and process and process instead, I may tell you something pretty amazing I've concluded, but may not deliver the info tactfully as my brain is quite frankly, still crunching information instead of empathy.

It just seems like there comes a point when my brain reaches a maximum limit in I don't know, speed or processing ability or something?

 

[Polymath257]

I see logic and reason as being relevant for finding the truth and emotion as relevant for figuring out what to do about it. So, for me, logic comes first and then emotion, but both have crucial jobs to play that the other cannot.

 

[Thief]

I think it's simple

your hand does what you think you should
or because you felt like it

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I don't think it's simple, and I don't think my behavior only consists of what I notice about how I seem to process things...I think my subconscious and automatic sensory and processing systems only allow me a little awareness, sometimes, of what I'm actually thinking and doing, if you get what I mean...

Big first problem is that most of the time, I have to translate...or wait for the subconscious to translate...what I perceive and how my body is reacting to it into conscious concepts. Sometimes the emotions come first, sometimes not until later, sometimes much later. "Logic" and reason may or may not play a role, depending...

 

[The Hammer]

I don't think it's simple, and I don't think my behavior only consists of what I notice about how I seem to process things...I think my subconscious and automatic sensory and processing systems only allow me a little awareness, sometimes, of what I'm actually thinking and doing, if you get what I mean...

Big first problem is that most of the time, I have to translate...or wait for the subconscious to translate...what I perceive and how my body is reacting to it into conscious concepts. Sometimes the emotions come first, sometimes not until later, sometimes much later. "Logic" and reason may or may not play a role, depending...

There is always more to it then just what we notice, but I also spend a large portion of my time analyzing how I process/think about things, by trying to stay as present in the now as possible. As mindful as I can be of everything around me. This tends to include how I am feeling and why. Even when not immediately apparent, it will be by the days end.

 

[The Hammer]

I see logic and reason as being relevant for finding the truth and emotion as relevant for figuring out what to do about it. So, for me, logic comes first and then emotion, but both have crucial jobs to play that the other cannot.

So, in your opinion, are emotions not representative of a truth?

 

[Heyo]

In most of my responses and actions I'm purely emotional. Most circumstances don't require slow thinking.
But when a problem hits the threshold to activate the logic part of the brain I can be rational to a fault. I have learned over time that a rational solution is often not what people want, even if they state so. So I first find the rational solution and then I question if that is really what the question was.
Yes, I was once one of those people who answer the question "Do you like tea or coffee?" with "Yes.".

 

[e.r.m.]

So, me and my wife were having a conversation the other night, and came to the conclusion that we both tend to process information slightly differently.

When I engage in a topic of interest/discussion, I allow emotion to take front and center, and temper that emotion with sound logic/reasoning. My wife on the other says that she starts with logic and reasoning when approaching a discussion, but tempers its [logics] coldness by inserting emotion to color it.

How do you process information? Does emotion rule you, or does logic and reasoning. Do you equally employ both? How does this affect you?

Bonus Question: Does this have any influence on your spirituality?

I attempt to process information as you described how your wife does it. But emotions can be elusive and subconscious. Sometimes, in retrospect, I realize that my emotions had actually been in charge, despite my intentions. Other times I'm more successful at tempering logic with emotion.

 

[e.r.m.]

So, in your opinion, are emotions not representative of a truth?

I don't think we generally realize how much emotion goes into our thinking process. I think the less we take into account our emotions and others', the less effective we'll be at processing and communicating.

 

[Twilight Hue]

It kind of reminds me of all those episodes of the original Star Trek where Spock's logic conflicted with Kirk's emotion.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I have Asperrgers, so I'm wired to think logically by default. However, I am also driven by female hormones, and I get abit manic sometimes so I also get some very strong feelings (something Asperrgers also adds to). And it's wonderful having both.

 

[PureX]

I start out with and trust instinct. If I am feeling strongly in that response, however, I want to know what is fueling that emotion. Otherwise, I want to check my instincts using reason, knowing though, that reason does not produce truth. But it can be useful in uncovering untruth.

 

[Polymath257]

So, in your opinion, are emotions not representative of a truth?

No. They represent our opinion. They are motivational, not informative, as far as I can see.

 

[PureX]

In most of my responses and actions I'm purely emotional. Most circumstances don't require slow thinking.
But when a problem hits the threshold to activate the logic part of the brain I can be rational to a fault. I have learned over time that a rational solution is often not what people want, even if they state so. So I first find the rational solution and then I question if that is really what the question was.
Yes, I was once one of those people who answer the question "Do you like tea or coffee?" with "Yes.".

Are you really referring to emotion, here, or to instinct. It sounds more like instinct.

 

[syo]

Does emotion rule you, or does logic and reasoning.

Both.

Does this have any influence on your spirituality?

Yup, a huge influence.

 

[e.r.m.]

It kind of reminds me of all those episodes of the original Star Trek where Spock's logic conflicted with Kirk's emotion.

More like Spock & McCoy.

 

[Heyo]

Are you really referring to emotion, here, or to instinct. It sounds more like instinct.

It is both. Lets call it fast thinking or non-rational. Thinking about it some is also manipulated. Stuff you do when you aren't really thinking deep about it.

 

[PureX]

More like Spock & McCoy.

Really. Kirk was just there for the pretty melodrama.