Should one lead life guided by logic or by emotions?

Question

Should one lead life and make major decisions completely based upon cold-logic, reason, careful rational thought, judgment and analysis? Or should one lead a life always using emotions, feelings, impulses and instincts?
Which do you think is beneficial for the self and the society in the long run?

(Star Trek example - Spock/Data vs. Kirk/McCoy?)

(My personal take - I tend to veer towards logic. From my own life experiences and what I have seen, a life based upon emotions and impulses leads to short term pleasure but long term unhappiness and indiscipline. It is the cause of violence, chaos and discontent in society.
On the other hand, the path of logic and reason is tough and needs discipline, but causes long term benefit. It leads to order and peace in life and society. I hope as humans evolve, they move towards logical perfection, and live for the common good for the Earth and society, instead of leading petty, emotional selfish lives.)

Highthoughts, I thank you for pointing that out. Next time I will be more careful about the grammar and syntax in my question.
Thanks to all who are posting in, and keep answering!

No Bushrons, pretty good (logical) answer, and thanks for the sources!

Answer 1

As the Star Trek writers eventually discovered, only emotion can supply you a REASON to act, but only logic can supply the most effective WAY to act.

Without some sort of Emotional prime motivator, there is little reason to do anything, you eat because you are hungry, not because your body needs fuel, and you eat what tastes good, again an emotional reaction, but if you do not use logic you will miscook the food, eat too much, eat the wrong things etc, so again logic supplies the way of it.

Finding the proper places to use Emotion and Logic and not use one when you need to use the other is the real trick, not that one is superior over the other. Managing them with reasonable skill is the key to a sane wise life, though many only aquire the skill long after it was most needed.

Answer 2

Great question, but the goal should be a matter of achieving 'detachment/disinterest and reason, rather than logic vs. emotion.

You're on the right track but it is more complex a task than most people are up to. Our thoughts/emotions are a result of the beliefs about self/the world conditioned during early childhood BEFORE the massive thinking brain is on-line to help us make sense of the behavior of others.

These embedded subconscious concepts and beliefs then control our perceptions, thoughts and feelings, until they are psychologically transcended which of course is a theological term. It is not just a matter of being psychologically healthy but a total discarding of the conditioned ego identity that allows us to be wholly present, rational and purposeful.

The danger in attempting this is that we may suppress or dissociate emotions in trying to overcome them and this is MORE disadvantageous than simply wallowing in our emotions and being irrational. Severe emotional trauma has to be healed. By observing our patterns of experience (which repeat) and the thoughts and emotions that accompany them, we can trace the patterns back to their origin in early experience and with effort eventually reframe the beliefs and eliminate their effects.

The reason for so arduous a task is that reality mirrors the contents of consciousness. It is certainly a noble effort to achieve a consistently rational state of mind and of course the world would be better off if everyone made the effort to do so. But, MOST people feel like they are being reasonable when they are at the mercy of their worst fears.

Overcoming the conditioned identity is a tricky business, but it is possible to do so. There is no more empowered state of consciousness. Reality shifts.

Answer 3

Well I have double trouble. I am going to give you the best example I know of emotion versus logic! Being a female I am naturally geared towards emotions. Being artistic (I write) again I am focused on impulse/emotion.It is part of artistic outlook on life. I can contrast this with my younger brother. Male, practical, architect...ruled by logic. Very disciplined all his life. He has made the right decisions, even from an early age was focused and direct. He waited to after graduation to meet his wife, Everything according to plan.Though i find him extremely cold-hearted at times. I on the other hand,travelled, got pregnant,fell in love (bad men) twice, before I graduated and went from job to job.Eventually i settled.never married tho'! So as he is younger than me, made better decisions, more money,nice house etc...i would say logic is best For strict,cold material gai, and . It is better for an easier trip through life. For living,loving,struggling and strengthening the character go my way.I am wiser as a result, and stronger. Ideally a healthy balance between the two would be nice, but that never happens!!

Answer 4

The key to leading a successful life is using a careful balance of emotion and logic based on past experiences. Using nothing but raw, cold logic in every situation may get you somewhere but I can guarantee that it will not get you to where you want to be. By using logic, there are always odds against you. If Bill Gates used nothing but logic, careful rational thought, and articulate analysis, he would never have made the decions he made to become as successful as he is because fact always causes you to see the things that are against you. Determination and a desire to set personal goals paired with articulate analysis and use of logic are what will benifit one's self and society in the long run.

Answer 5

In my personal experience logic always works. Using logic is harder because it requires you to think things through but in the end that helps you make a better decision. However I don't think someone should completely disregard their emotions and instincts because those come from your heart. In the end it depends on what you want to trust, your heart or your head.
I hope this helps!

Answer 6

The human brain works best when you use both halves in concert. (ie - you don't have to completely rely on one or the other) For some situations a more logical approach is warranted and in some situations a more emotional approach is better.

Answer 7

I believe that life should be lead by both logic and emotion. Then hand in hand, one would take a sensible approach to the way their lives resolved.

Answer 8

'Should one' sounds like a petty prejudice. Should you? Should I? Who becomes the authority of this ideal? It is by personal choice of freewill. Many times we tend to want to 'affect' or 'direct' the lives of others based upon our own ideals. The choice is defined by ones personal ideal. If ones decision should 'interfere' with the other...well then we have a problem. If you ask which to me would be wiser I would choose the cerebral approach. For others it might be wise just to enjoy what they 'feel'. Peace

Answer 9

Even a small child's logic is emotion driven, until he has the means to express what himself in words.
Do you want to go to the logical extreme of your position and say that if you feel angry your wife/husband won't let you buy a new tv, that you should sit down in the isle and scream and cry because you don't understand the logic that caused the "no"?
That is why children do that. They don't understand, they are frustrated by that lack of understanding, and unable to express themselves they sit down right where they are and scream.
If you do not mean to take your position to this logical extreme, then you must admit logic to replace the actions caused by emotions.
Feel your emotions, try to comprehend them, and the logic in the comprehension will guide you toward acting like an adult.

Answer 10

Without being guided by both, one might lose oneself due to lack of wholeness when making decisions.