Socrates Café Kuala Lumpur

We like to think of ourselves as rational beings, making decisions based on logic and reason. Yet, time and again, we act in ways that defy our own best interests. We buy things we don’t need, stay in relationships that hurt us, or lash out in moments we later regret. The culprit is often right under our noses: our emotions. Far from being a simple internal weather system, emotions shape our choices in ways we rarely notice, sometimes illuminating our path, and sometimes leading us straight into blind spots.

Emotions are not just reactions; they are powerful lenses that color our perception of reality. Fear can make us see threats that aren’t there, love can make us overlook glaring faults, and pride can make us double down on mistakes. Neuroscience shows that our emotional brain often drives decisions before the rational brain even gets a say. Philosophers have long debated whether this renders us irrational—or if our so-called “irrationality” is an integral part of what it means to be human.

In this discussion, we’ll explore why emotions can lead to some of our most irrational behaviors and how we might recognize these blind spots in ourselves and others. We’ll question whether emotional impulses are always a liability or if they sometimes guide us toward choices pure logic could never reach. By examining the interplay between feeling and reason, we may not only uncover why we act against our better judgment, but also discover the hidden wisdom that emotions can sometimes offer.

In our discussion we will consider these questions:

1. What is the fundamental difference between rational thinking and irrational thinking?

• Are emotions always at odds with logic, or can they guide us toward better decisions?

2. Are we prisoners of our biology?

• How much of our “irrational” behavior is hardwired, and how much is socially constructed?

3. When is emotional decision-making superior to rational thinking?

• Can a gut feeling sometimes outperform careful reasoning?

4. Do we overestimate our control over our emotions?

• How often do we think we’re being rational, but our choices are secretly driven by unconscious feelings?

5. Are some emotions inherently more “dangerous” than others in decision-making?

• Anger, fear, love, envy—do certain emotions predict more irrational outcomes?

6. Are we ever truly responsible for our irrational emotions?

• If our feelings are shaped by biology, upbringing, and culture, can we really be blamed for decisions driven by them?

7. Do we lie to ourselves more than we lie to others?

• How often do “rationalizations” mask emotional truths we’re unwilling to face?

8. Can love or loyalty justify irrational choices?

• When we knowingly act against our best interests for someone else, is that noble or foolish?

9. Could emotional intelligence be used to manipulate rather than enlighten?

• If understanding emotion allows us to influence others, does that make emotional insight a tool for ethics—or exploitation?

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