Understanding Reason, Feelings, and Human Behavior
According to Aristotle, practical reason should pursue purposes that invite us to attain them wisely, seeking a balance between reason and desire (prudential reason). Historical and vital reason arises from the consideration that our reason is a historical product. Reason is closely tied to experience and, therefore, influenced by history. The notion of critical reason was developed by Ortega y Gasset, whose thinking is called “ratiovitalism.” Ortega explains that reason is an element that constitutes our life, and life cannot be understood without reason, leading to the idea of “life as a reason.”
Instrumental and Communicative Reason
Today, human beings tend to seek mastery over nature to meet their needs. Thus, theoretical reason becomes instrumental reason, building devices capable of dominating nature. This rationale has extended to social relations, where some people consider others as instruments to achieve their aspirations (strategic rationality). This tendency to seek the most cost-effective choices for oneself leads to the concept of homo economicus. However, human rationality can also aid in the search for agreements and consensus. Through the communicative use of reason, human beings reach agreements about the truth or validity of rules. Thanks to communicative reason, we realize that we share language and the dignity of others.
The Value of Feelings
Throughout history, many philosophers have emphasized the role of feelings, emotions, or passions as constitutive of human beings. Sometimes, these are contrasted with reason or simply used to explain their ability to move and motivate us to act. Aristotle stated that man was “willing or desire intelligent,” indicating that reason directs the choice between different desires. The intellect is responsible for choosing the right, most appropriate desire through a deliberative process. The person who carries out this process properly possesses the virtue of prudence. For early Christianity, notably St. Augustine of Hippo, the most important feeling was loving philosophy. According to Augustine, one who discovers true love and does not abandon it can do nothing contrary to love. In this way, man seeks the passion of love even above the growth of reason, to resemble his creator and meet him.
Back in the eighteenth century, “philosophers of moral sentiment,” such as Adam Smith and his moral sympathy, had a special influence. These philosophers argued that human beings have very similar feelings in the same situations, forming a community of feeling (sympathy) that is the basis for judgments and moral judgments. According to the Scotsman David Hume, reason is incapable of motivating behavior, as opposed to the passions that motivate people to act. Passions may differ between peaceful and violent (emotional outburst). If we act according to a gentle passion, we have the impression that we act according to reason, but in fact, our reason is a slave to our passions. For his part, Kant believed that reason itself is able to move our will but recognizes the existence of respect as a moral sense. In the twentieth century, Xavier Zubiri attributed to beings…