Which is the more important aspect of you, your intellect or your emotion?

Question

If you had to make a choice between the two and complete your life without even a trace of one of them, which would you choose to give up?

Answer 1

Awesome question!

I feel there are pros and cons for each.

If you give up your intellect, you would become only emotional, reacting to everything that happens with only your heart. You could not logically decide if it is a serious situation, what the consequence is, and what can be done to fix it. You would 'feel' everything, experience every emotion to the max. Happiness, sadness, anger, love; they would all rule your life. Common sense is gone, you become impulsive and reactive. You would struggle to hold a job, to pay bills, to do anything needed to survive healthily in our society.

Conversely, having only your intellect you would be unable to read social cues. You would not understand why people are upset, happy, or in love. You would seem "cold" to those you meet, and seek only facts and absolute black and white truths. You could hold a job, pay bills and get by. You would not experience joy in the scents, sounds and visage of our beautiful planet. You process information like a computer, and can spout facts and trivia.

It is interesting to note that people with learning disabilities, such as Aspergers, deal with a lack of emotional control. They are highly intellectual, and are often unable to interact socially. They enjoy factual information, and become experts on chosen topics.

Conversely, people with other challenges, such as ADHD, are often very emotional and impulsive. They do what they want, when they want, because of emotional gratification.

A balance of both intellect and emotion is key to mental health. Thankfully, with support, people experiencing an imbalance can rectify it.

As to which one I'd give up, I'd pick emotion. I would hope to find a cure, invent something, impact the world in a positive way with my high intellect.

Answer 2

I would give up my intellect. And I say this because for about a 4 month stretch of time I was on an antidepressant. I really was not depressed, but was just going through a rough time because someone I loved was very angry at the world--and it was stressing me out. I reluctantly took the drug for this stretch of time. So many changes took place. No tears, no joy. No anxiety, no anticipation or excitement. It was like living without a purpose, and feeling absolutely nothing. I like myself much better with my emotions, even when I have PMS!!! I have come to terms with the fact that I am a sensitive woman, who is compassionate and loving and who has a few sad days now and then, and usually feels much better after I've had one! Its nice to be me again, and experiencing life without emotion is enough to convince me to give the answer that I never want to do THAT again! Thanks for the question...thought provoking for sure!

Answer 3

Well, with only emotion and no intellect, I'd exist as basically a vegetable...with no ability to communicate meaningfully with others. Conversely, with no emotion and only intellect, I'd be a living robot...with no ability to communicate meaningfully with others. Human interaction requires both intellect and emotion. And since humans are social animals, and people need human interaction to stay sane, I would be unwilling to give up neither intellect nor emotion. The question, although somewhat philosophical, is loaded. It appears to have no rational answer. And since a sound decision requires rational thought, I cannot choose.

Answer 4

Great question!
Both are a integral part of your soul. However, without reasoning (intellect), emotions would be imposable. Since emotions are dependent on intellect, you can not have emotions alone. So... the only logical conclusion would be to give up emotions and keep your intellect.

Do you "feel" this is a "logical"? :o)

Answer 5

I would give up emotions. To give up intellect wuold just make having emotions even worse. To go through life dumb and doing stupid things would make me sad. So would rather be intelligent and not have emotions.

Answer 6

Thank GOD we don't have to make that choice, but ultimately intellect over emotion would have to rule, otherwise no known entity called human could survive.

Answer 7

The two are indivisible, they are connected. We attach an emotional 'tag' to every experience and thought we ever have.

For instance, if I think of my mother - in - law, I experience a negative emotion, whereas if I think of lying on a sunny beach, I experience a positive emotion.

Emotion is attached to our intellectual capacity in the same way as a set of gears is attached to a motor car.

Answer 8

I would go for intuition.

Dont know if it comes under intellect or emotion..

Answer 9

emotional aspect.
because only if u r emotionally fit u can develop ur intellect

Answer 10

That's a tough one.

Without intellect, you seem like an idiot.

Without emotion, you seem like a *****.

I think I would rather be a *****.