Psychoanalysis, Emotions, and Living a Good Life

How do we think about how to live? How should we? Many philosophers have argued that reason, in some form or other, supplies the answer. But what about the influence of our emotions on our reasoning, on our understanding of what is good and why we should pursue it? I shall argue that the roots of our emotions are often unconscious, and we can be unaware of the influence they have on our vision of living of a good life and the choices we make. To uncover this influence is not itself with the power of reason as traditionally understood; instead, we require a set of interrelated dispostions, viz. acceptance, vulnerability, courage, and compassion. Without the self-knowledge these traits can bring, our 'reasons' for doing what we do may not be what we think they are.

Dr Michael Lacewing is Director of Research and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Heythrop College, London.

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