Are Reason and Emotion Equally Necessary in Justifying Moral Decisions - Essay Example

Are Reason and Emotion Equally Necessary in Justifying Moral Decisions - Theory of Knowledge Essay Knowledge is acquired through various ways and twoof the most significant, often paradoxical ways of knowledge are emotion and reason. Through the ages, there have been attempts of various types to analyze and to comprehend these most fundamental means of knowledge acquisition. To make a basic distinction, reason is a faculty of awareness which attempts "to perceive that which exists by organizing observational data" whereas emotion a faculty of reaction to one's perception which has "has no power of observation and no volition; it has no means of independent access to reality, no means to guide its own course, and no capacity to monitor its own relationship to facts" (Objectivist Philosophy. 2006). The fact about reason and emotion being the same, there have been various questions involving the nature of the two concepts, one pertinent being "are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions" Only a meticulously analyzed study and discussion of the question may find an exact answer to this. Therefore, the most focal thrust of this discussion has been the question in the backdrop of the issues of abortion and ethnic cleansing. Abortion which is "the removal of a fetus from the body of its host (a pregnant woman) which typically results in the death of the fetus" (What is abortion 2004) and ethnic cleansing, "the attempt to create ethnically homogeneous geographic areas through the deportation or forcible displacement of persons belonging to particular ethnic groups," (Ethnic Cleansing. 2008) are the most obvious present issues which magnetize our rational and emotional deliberation of the issues in arriving at moral decisions. Consequently, in this discussion, we try to find out the magnitude of both the philosophical concepts in our moral decisions. "Everything human is part emotion and part reason All domains of knowledge lie somewhere between these two end points; with music being the end of the line at emotion and mathematics being at the end of the line at reason" (Human Essence is Pattern! 2006). A comprehensive analysis of the issues of abortion and ethnic cleansing clarifies why emotion gives you musical effect and reason mathematical. On the one hand, these issues are to be looked at and comprehended on the basis of emotion so as to side with the suffering, the affected, and the neglected. It is necessary to see things in this direction so that the moral considerations are given due attention. When we discuss the consequences of abortion and ethnic cleansing, we need to identify the moral factors that make the people miserable and victimized. In this sense, emotion has a wider relevance and scope in moral issues concerning humanity. As the Bhagavad Gita establishes, it "has the advantage of being open to all, the weak and the lowly, the illiterate and the scholar. It is seen to be as efficacious as any other method and is sometimes said to be stronger than the others, since it is its own fruition, while other methods are means to some other ends" (Diploma Program, Theory of knowledge Guide. 2008). However, on the other hand, moral decisions cannot always be arrived at by considering emotion alone as it would be a thoughtful activity. The basic characteristic of human beings, as may be by far identified, is that they are rational beings and therefore we need to use our reason as well as emotion in taking moral conclusions. "David Hume wrote that reason is a "slave to the emotions." But new research suggests that in our moral decision-making, reason and emotion duke it out within the mind" (Shea 2006). For a better understanding of the concepts, let us consider the issues of abortion and ethnic clearance and analyze the role of emotion and reason in arriving at the right moral conclusions. First we will examine the role of emotion and reason in making a moral decision on the significant and often discussed issue of abortion. Abortion is a topic of common discussions and most often people tend to be away from the realities in the decision making on the issue. "Emotions have run at such a high pitch that reason often suffers in the abortion debates... If we are indeed creatures of reason, then we should be able to set aside emotion in the abortion debates and recognize where our differences lie so as to apply reason to narrowing the public divide. It is questionable if a simple yes-no about abortion reflects our ability to illuminate the topic with the light of reason" (Wear 1999). Often we hear cries in favor of the anti-abortion slogans and forget the need of such a reality as abortion for the cause of human existence and well being. We may find arguments in favor of abortion as we as those in favor of pro-life. "There is the Pro-life side, which believe that abortion is not a good thing, and should be made illegal. On the other end of the spectrum, there is the Pro-choice side. The Pro-choice side believe that its a woman's choice if she wants to carry the baby, or abort the pregnancy" (Abortion Pro. 2008). It is notable that, though there are various moral questions of the practice, an absolute prohibition of abortion is not desirable and possible. What controls our senses in favor of anti-abortion thinking is our emotion and opposition to this comes from our reasoning faculty which looks for facts around. Therefore, it is clear that not the emotional aspect of human knowledge alone, but, more importantly, human reasoning determines the moral decision on the question of abortion. There are pro-life as well as pro-choice advocates who give evidence to the arguments in favor of emotion and reason respectively. "General pro-life advocates are for life no matter what the situation or what the person feels. General pro-choice advocates delve into people's situations and feelings and learn to understand why abortion needs to be a choice. Society needs to find a median between the two" (Abortion Reflection. 2008). It may be noted that human "sense of morality lies more in intent than in result" (Wear 1999). We contempt the action of abortion because of its emotional appeal to our knowledge but, at the same time, encourage it due to our reasoning. "About 43% of American women will have abortions during their lifetime" (Paula 2002). There are various reasons why people want to practice abortion. All these reasons confirm that only an emotional criterion cannot be considered for an ultimate moral decision on the issue. More importantly, we also need to consider the reality and arrive at a conclusion to the issue based on reason as well. Abortion, as the emotion tends to direct us, is not all that bad or unwelcome but, as the reason correctly points out, "Abortion for the right reasons should be endorsed" (Wear 1999). A discussion of the issue of ethnic cleansing on the basis of these principles would clarify why reason and emotion are equally necessary to justify the moral decisions. The common perception is in favor of the anti-ethnic cleansing thinking. Many a people criticize this practice for the main reason that "Valuable human beings are eradicated merely because of some physical difference or "inadequacy." The person is condemned for his ethnicity. His features--skin, hair or eye color, shape of face, blood ancestry--are different from the accepted norm" (Koukl 1999). In the modern world ethnic cleansing in various forms exist and people are made to suffer only because they belong to other classes, regions, or ethnic groups. The practice prevails in various regions and it is often used in the most modified version. Ethnic cleansing is a phrase today used euphemistically "because cleansing implies an activity that is harmless, ordinary, and even good" (Doubt 1997). In this sense, the practice is contemptible. A moral decision based on emotion as well as reason is simple to arrive at in this case as both the emotional as well as the rational thinking on the issue gives the same result. Our reason and emotion side with the arguments against ethnic cleansing. There have been countless examples of ethnic cleansing throughout the world, all of which appeal to our emotional as well as rational thinking based on which we arrive at moral decisions. Primarily, it "is a widely used euphemism for the murders, arrests, rapes, and expulsions of Bosnian citizens" (Doubt 1997). Other examples of this activity are various. "Racist Mexican gangs are indiscriminately targeting blacks who aren't even involved in gang culture, as part of an orchestrated ethnic cleansing program that is forcing black people to flee Los Angeles." (Watson 2007). These activities prompt us to take the right moral decision on the matter. Thus, there is not greater evidence needed to state that our emotion as well as reason play determining role in justifying the moral decisions. In short, we can conclude that emotion and reason though often paradoxical are crucial in determining the moral decisions on various issues. Our discussion on this question based on the issues like abortion and ethnic cleansing proves that moral decisions are justified by the aspects of emotion as well as reason. There are occasions when emotion stresses the moral decision, just as there are times when reason more specifically affects moral decisions. In certain other cases, both reason and emotion together justify the moral decisions. Therefore, no one is ultimate and final, but both are similarly important to arrive at a right conclusion on the moral questions. Works Cited Objectivist Philosophy. Philosophical experts. 2006. 22 Jan. 2008 . What is abortion Abortion is pro-life; anti-abortion is anti-life. 2004. 22 Jan. 2008 . Ethnic Cleansing. Britanica online. 2008, 22 Jan. 2008 . Human Essence is Pattern! Allform.net. 2006. 22 Jan. 2008 . Diploma Program, Theory of knowledge Guide. Bhagavad Gita, as quoted in Emotion. 2008. 22 Jan. 2008 . Shea, Christopher. Blood on the tracks. 2006. 22 Jan. 2008 . Wear, Ken. Abortion: Let's Apply More Reason and Less Emotion to the Public Debate. 1999. 22 Jan. 2008 . Abortion Pro. Mega essays.com. 2008. 22 Jan. 2008 . Abortion Reflection. Mega essays.com. 2008. 22 Jan. 2008 . Paula, Silvana de. Abortion: Solution or Threat 2002. 22 Jan. 2008 . Koukl, Gregory. Ethnic Cleansing in the Womb. Stand to reason. 1999. 22 Jan. 2008 . Doubt, Keith. On the Latent Function of Ethnic Cleansing in Bosnia. 1997. 22 Jan. 2008 . Watson, Paul Joseph. Racist Mexican Gangs "Ethnic Cleansing" Blacks In L.A. 2007. 22 Jan. 2008 . Read More