The Rational Faculty
from Zen Stoic Path Show Hosted by Victor Pierantoni
We have all been given the advice to act rationally and make decisions based on logic without emotion. Unfortunately, this advice sees humans in an overly optimistic light. We are ALL emotional and primarily operate within our preconceived biases, prejudices, limited perceptions (ALL of which are rooted in emotion). Not every decision is so simple or black and white. Thinking and reasoning are required. Making decisions without the rational faculty makes us take our emotions literally, and act impulsively. The key is understanding how to use emotion and rationality. Buddhism sees both emotion and logic as equally illusory (this is impractical for everyday use in civilized society), while Stoicism seeks to replace logic with emotion (Zen would see this as just as much a mistake to operate on emotions exclusively). The reality is that both logic and emotion are part of our reality and rather than choosing sides, use them harmoniously to direct you.
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What this episode covers
How to know when something is or isn’t the right decision? In this episode, you'll walk away with an understanding on how to use the rational faculty (a lesson from Stoic Philosopher, Epictetus) to improve your decision making. We will also cover what questions to ask yourself that will turn your emotions into your compass in moments of decision, rather than a distraction.
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