Decoding Aristotle’s Philosophy on Emotions
Perhaps the hardest philosopher I’ve ever encountered is Aristotle but his philosophy forms the basis of almost all of western thought so when I was finally able to decipher what he was saying I saw a familiarity between his thinking and our own intellectual milieu. This is especially true regarding his ideas and insights on guiding emotion with reason.
His ideas around morality and virtue form an almost timeless foundation for our own contemporary understanding.
In his view emotions were not obstacles to overcome or weaknesses to suppress, instead they were vital and essential ingredients of a virtuous life when they were properly managed.
Guiding Emotions with Reason
Today we talk about emotional intelligence but that term would have made no sense to Aristotle, but his ideas around guiding emotions with reason is perhaps a better way to explore the topic.
At the heart of Aristotle’s thinking was the idea that guiding emotions by reason allows the emotions to serve their higher purpose in our lives.
For him, there wasn’t a good or bad emotion, happiness wasn’t prized more than anger, instead each emotion had a normal and natural expression that served a purpose as well as a more extreme and distorted expression that could disrupt someone’s life.
In Nicomachean Ethics, he argued that virtue truly lies in what he called the golden mean between the emotional extremes.
For instance if you examine an emotion that often has a negative connotation, that of anger, you have people who argue that it is inherently bad and unjustified.
But for Aristotle he saw that argue when expressed appropriately could be a force for justice or self-presentation, but too much would blind someone in rage, and too little would lead to an apathetic indifference towards life.
Similarly he say courage not as the absence of fear, but as the middle ground between cowardice and recklessness.
For Aristotle virtue lie in this middle ground expression of the emotions.
Because of this he saw that emotions were not in violation of or opposed to reason as is commonly thought but were actually deeply entwined and interdependent.
Our capacity to feel emotions is natural and therefore good in the same way that our capacity to reason is.
The Role of Rational Reflection
In his mind these doesn’t mean that they are opposing forces but were actually partners.
Emotions can guide us towards what is good and away from what is harmful but only if they are informed through rational reflection.
Take something like empathy for an example.
It is an essential emotion for developing and building connection, but it must be paired with wisdom or it can be distorted into an extreme of codependency.
At its appropriate expression it is the very glue which binds us to each other and at its extreme there are 12 step groups based around freeing oneself from it because it can be so destructive to ones life.
When we practice guiding emotions with reason we can both feel deeply as well as think clearly, both in balance without one outpacing or dominating the other.
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The Skill of Guiding Emotion with Reason
But just because we have the innate capacity to feel as well as reason does not mean that the ability to balance the two is innate.
This is a skill which must be cultivated if we are to live happy and virtuous lives.
As distant as todays analytical philosophy has become to real life, the Ancient Greek philosophers believed philosophy was a guide to the everyday.
They encouraged having a practical wisdom which would allow someone to make sound judgements in the often times very complex real world situations.
Here, knowledge is not power, the application of knowledge is power, just knowing a bunch of abstract principles is completely useless unless one is able to translate it into the practical application.
For Aristotle, guiding emotions with reason wasn’t about avoiding emotions but learning how to navigate them skillfully in the everyday world. When we experience anger, sadness, or even joy, practical wisdom enables us to assess whether those emotions are justified and how best to act on them.
Aristotle would argue that this skill is developed through deliberate practice—by paying attention to our emotional responses and refining our ability to channel them constructively.
Developing this harmony between emotion and reason requires intentional habits, something Aristotle stressed in his philosophy of virtue.
He believed that virtues are cultivated through repeated actions—what we do consistently shapes who we are.
Emotional intelligence follows the same principle.
Practices like mindfulness and reflection train us to pause, observe, and understand our emotional patterns. For example, when a disagreement arises, mindfulness can help us notice the initial surge of frustration before it turns into defensiveness.
This pause creates space for reason to step in, allowing us to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively.
If this nudges something beneath the surface—something raw, real, or quietly true—step into Emotional Intelligence / Poetic Intelligence. It’s not just about understanding feelings; it’s about navigating power, presence, and perception with depth. For those ready to lead from within.
The Greater Good: Emotions in Harmony with Community
Over time, these small, deliberate actions shape our ability to handle emotions with grace and wisdom.
Importantly, Aristotle believed that guiding emotions with reason is not just about individual well-being; it’s about contributing to the greater good.
A virtuous life, in his view, is one lived in harmony with others, where our emotions and actions align with a shared sense of justice, kindness, and community.
Emotional intelligence reflects this ideal by emphasizing how our emotional regulation and empathy impact those around us.
When we learn to guide our emotions thoughtfully, we not only enhance our own lives but also create environments where others can thrive.
Aristotle also saw the relationship between emotions and reason as dynamic, requiring constant attention and adjustment.
He recognized that life is unpredictable, and our emotions often reflect this uncertainty.
What matters is not eliminating emotional reactions but learning to navigate them. This adaptability is a hallmark of emotional intelligence—the ability to remain flexible, resilient, and reflective in the face of changing circumstances.
For Aristotle, this skill would be an expression of practical wisdom, as it ensures that both reason and emotion remain aligned with our highest values.
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