Rational emotions?

Abstract

In the present essay I discuss about the connections between emotion and reason, starting from the hypothesis according to which the traditional division among both spaces does not hold. In light of the latest advances in cognitive science, we can affirm that rational and decision-making processes are imbued, several times, by emotional factors, which do not obstruct but contribute to improve our understanding of reality and «the other people»; this is, human intelligence, in many of its aspects, would be seriously undermined if we discard or nullify the emotional component. If my hypothesis is correct, we would be forced to redefine our conception of mind and, therefore, of human being and his nature. In fact, a new model about emotions would transform our conception of ethics and morality.