Last class we discussed Gulliver's Travels and the balance of emotions vs. reason in the Yahoos and Houyhnhnms. I wondered at first why Swift didn't just use two different sets of people to make it more relatable to us. Why did he choose to use horses? Upon some further thought, I realized that Swift understood human nature. He knew that no human can live on reason alone. Emotions are what govern our lives and thoughts. They even sometimes affect our reasoning. It reminded me of Flowers for Algernon when Charlie begins to learn so many things all at once. His intellect raises a great deal and though he tries so very hard to forget his former life that was based almost solely on emotions, he can't.
I believe Swift understood that the only way to make it relatable to us was to use an animal whose actions are based on instinct rather than emotion as it would simply be impossible for a human to relate to one of their own kind with no emotion. This raises a question in my mind of which I would choose if I had the ability. If, somehow, we were able to choose between emotion and reason, would I choose the chaotic life based on the whim of my emotions, or the nice, clean life of one who lives in the realm of reason?
I think I would have to choose emotion. I realize it would be much more chaotic, messy, and probably violent as Swift pointed out with wars and murders and such, but I think the reason that it is human nature is that love is the driving force behind our lives. Humans were created to love and be loved, to worship the Creator out of love for Him. We were created to love our families, our friends, and to serve them out of that love. I can't imagine a society in which that doesn't hold true, even if it becomes perverted in our society all too often.
Which brings me to close. If you could choose, which one would you pick?
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I would have to agree with you and say that I would choose a life of emotion as well. If no one had the passion or drive to do anything, nothing would get done. There would be no goals or ambitions to seek. Without goals in life, what is the purpose of working? If no one has the ability to let their emotions guide their creativity, what inventions and improvements in modern technology could be made? Although there would be mass chaos and violence, the world would be more driven with their actions and much more would be accomplished rather than if one person was doing the same thing as everyone else.
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