Prefrontal Cortex & Limbic System, Reasons & Emotions

The conflict between our use of the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system in the brain; a conflict between reasoning and emotions is the reason why humans are so interestingly ridiculous, so self-contradictory. We like to eat and want to be fit, we like to be in love and want to be free, we like to be understood but don't want to be seen through completely. I imagine falling to either one side is considered losing oneself.

The question is: should we rely on reasoning or emotions, in other words which one is more important or are they of the same importance? But each one of them play an important part in our private and social life. Reasoning provides clarity, emotions evaluate morality. When we're in doubt, we turn to someone for help; they might respond with inclination to reasons, or emotions, or both which is the so called 'neutral' opinion. But this someone is a person of our understandings, of whom we trust. Before we hear an answer, we have already anticipated a kind of answer. For instance, when we consult a priest, we've already believed in something and wanted help from religion. Or when we talk to a typical female friend, we've already known that we should trust our instinct or the 'sixth sense'. Or when we're already in anger or grief, we don't want to hear a reasonable lecture but rather a comforting whisper. At the end, we have to return to our own to make decisions. It is us who have to make the final choice.

Therefore, reasoning and emotions are of relative importance. Sometimes reasoning is important, sometimes emotions are important. This is why making choices can be hard, especially moral choices, because any rules are too general, and every choice has its unique situation and consequences. Jean-Paul Sartre once mentioned: "the moral choice is comparable to the construction of art". It's okay to set rules for ourselves: to be honest, to be caring, to be responsible, whatsoever. But in many situations, it's also okay to abandon these rules. For instance, when we respect an elder we should be kind rather than honest, or when we raise a child it's okay to be harsh sometimes rather than caring to teach lessons.

What's my point in this? We should apply reasoning to our emotions, like how different parts of the brain don't work separately. Use reasoning to evaluate emotions, which is often easier said than done. For the moral part, it's important to keep in mind that action is the confirmation and validation of any moral judgment. It doesn't matter what you think or believe, but it's the final action that conclude your decision.

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