Daniela Sanchez
October 22, 2014
Mr. Howes
Period 4
Emotions vs Logical Thinking
Anthony De Mello writes about the heart leading the way for thinking. At the beginning of the text, the reader assumes that all thinking is done logically with the brain. By the end of the text, de Mello hopes that the reader believes that people listen to their heart thinking that they use logic. Anthony de Mello is correct in that most people take their initial steps with their heart in front. De Mello is wrong thinking that all human beings use this way of reasoning. Although emotions persuade, the facts are what impress the intellectual thinker.
De Mello states that one thinks with emotions rather than with logic. Although this might be true, rational thinking can be observed by many great men, one of whom was Abraham
Lincoln. President Lincoln was one of this nation's greatest leaders if not the greatest president in
American history. Lincoln in his Lyceum Address said, “ Passion has helped us; but can do so no more. It will in future be our enemy. Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defence.” Emotions can only do so much before one must use their intellect to achieve in the game of life. It is reason and facts that will in the end be reigning over pitiful emotions that have let us down in the past. An example of emotions being able to get the best of an individual can be observed in an interview conducted by the admirable Steve Forbes. Forbes interviewed Daniel Kahneman, a Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs Emeritus at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School. Kahneman is
also a 2002 winner of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. Kahneman was questioned about the point Burton Malkiel makes concerning the stock market“If you are consistent, you will do fine, the market will rescue you. Emotions are your enemy.” Kahneman’s response was
“Emotions are, indeed, your enemy. The worst thing that can happen to you, of course, is to bail out, to make a decision and then not stick with it, so that you bail out when things go badly, so that you sell low and you buy high. That is not recipe for doing very well in the stock market, or anywhere.” Kahneman knows that something so serious, such as the stock market, should not be managed in a sentimental manner. Neither should something so serious as someone’s life for that manner be worth jeopardizing. When it’s time to get down to business, emotions should be left at the door. De Mello’s reasoning is faulty because, as the reader can see Lincoln and Kahneman thought with their brains, and by doing so they are the respected men they are recognized for now. Emotions are too manipulating, those who think in a sensible manner often have less troubles. Another respectable man who has the seen the world in a more logical way is Horace
Walpole. Walpole was an English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician whose emotions did not obstruct him. His words were, “The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.” Humour is derived from the state of someone else’s emotional behaviour. To the intellectual thinker, amusement is found in the sufferings of those who overspill their world with a whirlpool of emotions. That must end to allow the pursuit of happiness to take place. In order to progress and evolve, change must happen over time and that change is the human behaviour and the time to change that is now. Human beings take one step forward and two steps back when emotions are brought into play. So end the tragedy by ending
feelings and start the movement of rational thinking. Join the group of elites and their comical sense of humour to achieve what every sensible person craves for—happiness. Walpole states that those who lead their train of thought with feelings often suffer and therefore shouldn’t think in that matter, contrary
