A Philosophical Perception Of Emotion In Morality

Abstract

In answering the question what is the standard of morality, some philosophers argue that reason is the moral standard. By reason, they mean whatever action is in accordance with reason is morally right and whatever action is opposed to reason is morally wrong. The rationalists contend further that morality is the function of reason, that for somebody to attain higher moral realms, he should not allow his emotions to blind his reason but always make sure that reason triumphs over the passions in all his moral decisions, deeds and speeches. Even some anti-rationalist philosophers have risen against the above position of the rationalist. The arguments advanced by philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Nietzsche, Soren Kierkegaard and the likes could not adequately place emotions in its rightful place with regard to morality. The aim of this paper is to deviate from the dualistic nature of man as composed of reason and emotion but to argue the fact about man, by nature, is wholly made of emotion and what you could call reason in him is the justification for his emotional acts.

International Journal of emotiaonl psychology and sport ethics Vol. 9 2007: pp. 1-12