Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions?

Question

Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions? need a good explanation

Answer 1

I personally believe that all moral decisions are based on emotion, just as I believe that all decisions are based on emotion (and then, perhaps, rationalized via "intellect" later on, or even beforehand). The question is really this: to whom do you feel you owe justification for your actions/beliefs? And why?

Answer 2

I would have to say the share an equally... with out reasoning we wouldn't understand our emotions, and why we have them. On the other hand we reason the history and present give use our unique emotions that change every second. So that is my take on it. As far as effecting our moral decisions reasoning can change it. In WW2 the solders knew that killing men was against the morals but reasoned that in order too restore peace to the world they would need to do what ever it took.

Answer 3

Moral decisions are based on gut reactions. So really its mostly about how we feel about something.

Moral systems, are something different. One can use reason to analyze the gut reactions we have. Sometimes our intuition and emotional responses are simply wrong or ill advised.

For those who believe in the supernatural, morality is decided by divinity. Nonsense sure, but there you have it.

Answer 4

hip/square emotion/reason passion/wisdom

there are many takes on the classic / romantic split - you can't make high qualty moral decisions without the best of what you have to make them with like reason and emotion but I can tell you from experience an analytical moralistic metaphysics is best to have as it incorporates both and is verifiable like a science.

morality for me resides in the following levels ( from lowest moral value to highest )
Inorganic patterns of value
biological patterns of value
social patterns of value
intellectual patterns of value

all patterns can be
static ( higest presnet quality precluding change yet awaitng improvement )
or dynamic ( those which are revolutionary now but will become static if of high enought quality)

my emotion and reason are tools I use within this framework

Answer 5

It really depends on the situation. Where the feelings and well being of people are involved, the decision is often more emotion. But,

"...the heart has its reasons which reason knows not of..."

Answer 6

Justifying no, equal yes. Sometimes we follow the heart, sometimes we follow the mind. Either way, it's the same thing. We can say we live in a world that matters not. Prove me wrong baby, I know I'm right.

Answer 7

I think they occupy different roles. Emotions are like a horn that warns us that something is wrong, then reason takes over. Emotions can also take over when there isn't enough time to reason it out.

Emotions ought to be informed, i.e. trained, by reason.

Answer 8

emotion never fits to justify moral decisions, because it's stupid without reason.

Answer 9

Both reason and emotion are handicapped without the other.