Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxd!rlr From: rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Professor Wagstaff) Newsgroups: net.religion.christian Subject: Re: QUESTIONS FROM A FRIEND Message-ID: <725@pyuxd.UUCP> Date: Tue, 19-Mar-85 19:54:39 EST Article-I.D.: pyuxd.725 Posted: Tue Mar 19 19:54:39 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 20-Mar-85 05:54:27 EST References: <347@oakhill.UUCP>, <1281@shark.UUCP> <5288@utzoo.UUCP> Organization: Huxley College Lines: 22 >>Anger is a legitimate emotion. There is nothing about anger that makes >>it evil of itself. However, like all emotions, it must be balanced by >>reason, and it must not be allowed to fester itself into hatred. [HUTCH] > Does this mean that hatred is an illegitimate emotion? How can one tell > the legitimate ones from the illegitimate ones, then? [LAURA] As Hutch said, by how well they are balanced out by reason. If your reasons for having those emotions are irrational (i.e., "I hate you because you have more money than I do"), than the emotion is "illegitimate". What's more, an action carried out based on an irrational emotion that harms other people is also "illegitimate", if indeed one intends to classify such things through "legitimacy". Emotions themselves cannot be "evil" (in the sense of harmful) except if they incite to harmful action. They may be erroneous, based on misconceptions, or just plain irrational (even counterproductive), but that doesn't make them "harmful". (Actually, if it results in counterproductiveness dues to certain (in-)actions taken, then that may be harmful.) {Uh, excuse me, Laura, but is that you posting to net.religion.christian?} -- Otology recapitulates phonology. Rich Rosen ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr