How Emotions Are More Powerful Than Intellect
Emotion vs. Intellect
Have you ever experienced the deep feeling of love for another person, and it wasn’t given back in return? Have you ever experienced feelings so intense that you thought you couldn’t live anymore? If so, then you have experienced the raw power of feelings and emotions. Reason and logic cannot touch our hearts the same way as emotion does.
Emotions will always be more powerful than intellect.
THE ENLIGHTENMENT MAN
Johann Wolfgang von Geothe’s book “The Sorrows of Young Werther” illustrates the power of emotions and is considered to be one of the top greatest books of all time. It was published in 1792 towards the end of the Age of Reason or Enlightenment. Like Da Vinci was known as the Renaissance Man, Goethe was known as the Enlightenment Man. He mastered law, science, poetry theatre, writing, and philosophy at a time when intellect was the highest ideal. Goethe is considered to be the greatest German thinker and arguably the greatest European thinker ever. He was the epitome of enlightenment and logic. Yet, he started to realize some of the pitfalls of anointing intellect as superior to emotion and feelings.
EMOTIONS BEFORE INTELLECT
Goethe realized the value of emotion and the unique power it holds with mankind. Before we developed our intellect, we operated from instinct, intuition, and emotions. This is called our “reptilian brain.” As time moved along, we developed conscience and reasoning, which is our neo-frontal cortex.” Feelings and emotions hit us more at the visceral and “gut” level more so than our later developed intellect level.
THE SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER
In “The Sorrows of Young Werther,” Goethe uses the main character Werther to exemplify the power of emotions. Werther is very fervent, energetic, and idealistic in the story. He is head over heels in love about an engaged woman named Charlotte. According to Litcharts.com, Goethe uses Werther’s character to “argue for the beauty of a passionate existence over the rational and deadening influence of the intellect (The Heart vs. The Mind).” Here is an example of Werther’s emotional thoughts in the book:
“One hundred times have I been on the point of embracing her. Heavens! what a torment it is to see so much loveliness passing and repassing before us, and yet not dare to lay hold of it! And laying hold is the most natural of human instincts. Do not children touch everything they see? And I.” (p. 58)
Goethe also uses Charlotte’s fiancé, Albert, as an example of the intellect being secondary to emotion. Albert is logical, boring, bland, and straight-forward. Goethe inserts a drab note from the editor in towards the end of the story. Here is an excerpt:
“It is a matter of extreme regret that we want original evidence of the last remarkable days of our friend, and we are, therefore, obliged to interrupt the progress of his correspondence, and to supply the deficiency by a connected narration.”
This note summarizes and logical analyzes all of the events of the story and explain the logic of how everyone is acting. This comes across as boring and uninteresting as opposed to the intense emotions of the rest of the story. Goethe did this to emphasize how much more magnetic and interesting feelings and passions are than intellect. In this way, Goethe is discussing philosophy and human psychology in his novel.
The love is unrequited to Werther by Charlotte. Eventually, Werther cannot contain his feelings for Charlotte anymore, because he cannot be with her since she is already with another man. He chooses to take his life in an act of final desperation as he was overcome by his emotions.
EMOTION AS COUNTER TO SOCIETY
The whole approach that Goethe took writing this book ran counter to the rest of the Age of Reason which held intellect as superior to emotion. Not only that, but even to this day intellect is still promoted in society as being above emotion. Emotion is relegated to simply being a less developed aspect of humanity that was thankfully overcome by our intellect.
THE BENEFITS OF EMOTION
By valuing your emotions, you can:
Protect yourself by listening to your intuition.
Become more persuasive and influential with other people. There is a reason why politicians, actors, and great salesman rely upon emotion and drama.
Gain greater self-awareness by understanding your feelings and knowing your sub-conscience more.
This will allow you to become a more complete and powerful individual.
Notes:
Gothe, Johann (1792). The Sorrows of Young Werther. Dover Thrift Editions.
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-sorrows-of-young-werther/themes