If one is
familiar with the Dual Processing Theory, one is aware that emotion is always
one’s first defense and one’s first consideration when making a decision.
Emotions are inherently human; they are what allows us to love and what stands
in the way of a logical, sensible, perfect human race, as we are ruled by our
emotions. Emotions have very little value in the 21st Century,
society attempts to disregard emotions in favour of logic and reason. Emotions
are seen as a weakness, especially in such areas of knowledge as the Natural
Sciences, and emotions are exploited in all aspects of society. Despite this,
emotions still hold a special position in Religious Knowledge Systems, even as
the number of those who believe declines rapidly.
In the 21st
Century, emotions are viewed as weak. Emotions are closely associated with
women, as they are also viewed as ‘weak’, so words such as ‘girly’,
‘emotional’, or ‘sissy’ would have a negative connotation. An example of a
popular writer exhibiting these beliefs in the 20th Century, a
writer with whom one would associate incredible writing, one needs only to look
toward Ernest Hemingway. His “Code Hero”, always a man of course, exhibits such
traits as ‘stoicism’ and the ability to repress emotions. In the Natural
Sciences as well there is no place for emotions. If the results of an
experiment have been changed because someone “didn’t like the results”, there
would be dire consequences in the scientific community.
In the advertising world, and in the political world,
emotions are freely exploited. When referring to Ethos, Logos, and Pathos,
Pathos, when used effectively, is the most useful of the three because of the
human instinct to resort to emotions first and logical reasoning second.
Politicians will use Pathos in their speeches to appeal to their audiences; if
they generate positive emotion towards themselves, it may help them win the
election. Many effective advertisements will play to human emotions to enact a
strong response.
Although I am not religious, my family is Catholic and part
of my childhood was deeply involved in Catholic ideals. Emotions are highly
important in religion; those who believe tie their emotions and religion
closely together and link them to their self-worth. In prayer, or making
decisions, their beliefs and emotions are of the upmost importance. Happiness,
to those who believe, comes from being “a good Christian” or “following the
Lord’s will”. Any jealousy or rage and it is a betrayal of their faith. In this
way, the “Catholic guilt” is very strong, I’ve felt it through my family when I
behave how the Catholic God would not approve. There have been claims made that
perhaps religion gives us a stronger sense of morality. “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.” is a
quote from Soren Kierkegaard which well represents how investing emotions in religion is still a
desirable practice in the 21st Century.
In general, in the 21st Century, emotions are
valued very little. They are deemed weak and manipulated in many aspects of
society. I think that they have incredible value, we must invest them wisely.
Using our emotions to improve ourselves will improve our morality and
decision-making skills. Maybe we need not ask “What would Jesus do?” but we can
all change ourselves by devoting to a cause worth changing ourselves for.
