David Hume and the Importance of Feelings

[JasonM]

I've been studying Hume recently, and he says that all decisions are made based on feelings - it isn't irrational to prefer the safety of a fly over the safety of the whole world, and the only function of reason in decision making is to sort things out.

I think that there's some merit to this. Suppose you have to choose a university to attend. One university is cheaper, more prestigious, and will more likely land you a good job. Another university is closer to home, so you can be with your family. It isn't really more rational to prefer to go to the university away from home - you simply value being at home much more than other criteria. The person who decides to go away *values* a good job, etc. more than being close to home. Therefore, since it is a matter of values, it comes down to feelings. The only function that reason really had in the decision is that it helped you to come up with ideas and sort out which option is better - but it doesn't ultimately make the decision.

Hume always elevates the role of the "passions" and reduces the role of reason in his philosophy. As a feeler, I find this funny. But as thinkers, you may not. Anyway, tell me what you think about his view.

[Moriarty]

The example you cited seems very reasonable to me. I'll have to think about it in a greater context before firming up an overall opinion on it.

One example that comes to mind is being forced to choose to kill your friend, or to kill 100 strangers that you will never see. Do you value your friendship, or value human life? Which would it be? You are seemingly correct in that personal feelings will ultimately make the decision, but thinking functions will serve to rationalize them.

[zibber]

I don't like the idea of giving everything over to your feelings, but it's just silly to discount them completely in favor of reason.

Good use of feelings: The university I currently study at, I picked based on location (in the heart of my hometown). Odds are that other institutions have curriculi more specifically suited to my needs, but the sense of home I have at my current place of study can't be beat by them. Basically, your example.

Baaad use of feelings: Just an extreme example. The way people (who happen to be parents!) respond to pedophilia. Actually, any revengeful feelings towards criminals. Obviously, the ethical debate on criminal law is far from settled, but knee-jerk reactions generally seem not to be ultimately the most wise cues for action.

All in all, I think it's prudent to incorporate feelings into your reasoning, the importance/weight varying from instance to instance.

(ps. I think Hume's actual metaphysics/epistemology doesn't have a lot to do with feelings, but that's beside the point.)

[blueback]

Well, he seems to be on the right track.

Everything humans do is, at its root, based on an emotion. The fundamental reason we eat is because it feels good (pleasure) not eating hurts (pain). The fundamental reason we have kids is because they make us happy (pleasure) and not having them generally makes us feel sad (pain). The fundamental reason we breath is because we are scared of dying (pain). etcetera.

Think about a robot that had none of those base drives, why would it ever do anything? If you told it to wash the dishes it would ask you why. You could say that washing dishes is its job, but it would ask you why it should do its job. You could say that it's reason for existing is to do its job, but it would ask you why it should exist. A thing that is incapable of enjoying or being afraid of anything is a thing without motivation. If it wasn't afraid of losing its own existence you couldn't even threaten it. If it was too simple to converse with you and just carried out your order to do the dishes then it wouldn't be conscious, it would just be a very complicated way of turning the vibrations produced by your mouth into various actions. More steps than rolling a rock down a hill, but fundamentally the same thing.

I pride myself on being a rational person, but I recognize that I'm only rational because it makes me feel good (pleasure) and the idea of being as irrational as the people around me makes me uncomfortable (pain). That's why things like morality are, and can only be, individual decisions. They are, and can only be, based on each individual's unique emotional reaction to a situation.

[thod]

He is correct. A perfect rational has no reason to prefer one outcome over another. A computer couldn't care less if you run a program or not or turn it off. All objectives are set from the emotional side. Reason only comes into play in achieving those objectives.

Its part of the reason I see INTJ's as being emotional INTP's. The INTJ's are always wanting to achieve things.

[Rowan]

JasonM,

Hume is entirely right and, incidentally, one of my favourite philosophers – albeit slightly outdated in many respects, but often still relevant.

People don’t realise that reason, logic, rationality, etc. exist in the kingdom of the means whereas motivational factors live in the kingdom of the ends. Talk of logical values or rational desires is oxymoronic, which is not to say that values and desires are illogical or irrational, but that logic and rationality does not encompass values and desires.

I think the widespread confusion is caused by peoples’ inability to differentiate between the desire to be rational (which is common) and rational desires, which are impossible.

[ShaiGar]

my choice of university for next year was based solely on the courses offered.

[cal]

My understanding is that all decisions are emotional in the end. But we often start with an emotional choice, and use facts and reasoning to support it.

my choice of university for next year was based solely on the courses offered.

Did you feel better about your decision?

I'm betting there was an emotional choice behind the direction you chose.

[Aronnax]

I don't have a lot to add here that wasn't already covered, I just wanted to give you an additional data point.

I really only use my logic to min/max the pain and pleasure in my life. The only advantage of being a "logical thinker" is I tend consider things on a longer interval than many of the people around me. Immediate gratification frequently isn't as important as long term goals.

[malefide]

Logic and ration are tools by which I achieve my desires, which are ultimately pure emotion. Logic is nothing more than a tool.