Are reason and emotion equally necessary in justifying moral decisions - Essay Example

Simply put, without it the act itself and the result will be considered irrational and therefore, would never satisfy the criteria of a moral decision which requires the agent of such decision to display an ability to distinguish right from wrong. Obviously, it is the most important element in all decision-making process. But as we explore the issue of moral decision specifically, there is an added element of morality that elevates the role of emotion several notches higher. According to Richard M.

Gula (1989), “discernment is primarily a matter of the heart; it is an aesthetic judgment of affectivity and virtue.” (p. 315) One should take note that we need discernment in determining what is right or wrong and of the possible course of actions available would be most consistent with the requirements of a specific moral problem or case at hand. As such, my argument is that it is not just the intellect that is involved in the assessment and judgment of moral realities. Such process needs a personal response based on one’s experience and emotional state.

Reasons serves as the logical framework of a moral decision while emotion plays the pivotal role in terms of motivation. Gula, though talking in the religious perspective, expressed a very powerful illustration, representing all other related cases, by saying that in the decision-making process one’s inclinations and choices, discernment engages the whole network of human intelligence. This process according to him, not only includes the conscious mind and its power of reason but also the unconscious as well, working with the whole body including its physical and emotional response to human experiences.

Patricia Greenspan (1995) further explored this area as she put forward the idea that moral decisions and ethics, in general, are subject-independent and emotion-based. She introduced the perspective of guilt