My dog is afraid of the lawn mower (At least he at first). But that is perfectly reasonable fear for a dog. If he gets too close to my lawn mower he can be hurt. I can only imagine what sort of assault on the senses a lawn mower is to an animal.
Think of your own senses. If you heard a loud explosion would you not immediately run in the opposite direction. Think if the explosion inside your lawn mower.
Another example, when something feels "icky" or "yucky," say a dead dog. Most people would be scared to pick it up. There are others who would say it is stupid to pick up a dead dog without first putting on gloves and covering your face.
Would fear be rational in both cases? Not because it is "yucky" or nasty. but beause a person can in fact die from illness by touching a dead animal (or a sick one).
yes Im bored.
2006-09-10 09:11:08 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
fear can be rational but not phobia, by definition phobia is an irrational manifestation of fear, when there is direct association between source object and the impetus without logical processing
2006-09-10 09:35:09 · answer #1 · answered by jingleh4m 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. First let me define a phobia, is a carry over of being scared but allowing it to control you thinking. Phobias are irrational, because if we were to reason through most of the fear would be dispelled. Some of the examples you cited, the explosion is common sense, not a phobia.
2006-09-10 16:18:33 · answer #2 · answered by tigranvp2001 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that phobias can sometimes be helpful; for example, agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) can actually save you under certain circustances; even though, for most people it is a crippling state of mind.
2006-09-10 16:19:00 · answer #3 · answered by bruinfan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Phobia is by definition, unrealizable fear. That answers your question.
2006-09-10 16:21:06 · answer #4 · answered by Sophist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋