In similarity, the natural sciences are very closely related to mathematics. The natural sciences would include subjects like biology and chemistry. Emotion should not affect the use of science, if done correctly by the scientist. If too much emotion is allowed in, the process of science can be hindered. Emotion has large impact on the acceptance of scientific knowledge. If much of society has certain emotions about a particular scientific idea or theory, then the acceptance of the knowledge will be affected. Certain ideas that are controversial like evolution, stem cell research, and AIDS have been rejected by some groups of people who have strong emotions against these ideas.
The human sciences are very different the natural sciences and math. The human sciences include subjects like psychology and sociology. The term “science” to describe these subjects can be misleading. Much of these sciences are based on theories, which can easily be affected by the emotions of the scientist developing the theory. By calling these subjects “sciences”, people tend to want to associate it with rules and facts. These subjects deal with interactions of humans (i.e. relationships, behavior, etc.) which can be very subjective to emotion. Since these subjects deal mostly with people, each person’s emotions can alter the interpretation of the knowledge. These subjects are hard to prove and hard to become accepted by society because everyone has different emotions that they will base their individual beliefs on. The creation of knowledge in these areas is also very much dependent on the emotions of the scientist who can manipulate the data to fit their personal goals.
Emotion has many influences on history. Something that is “fact” can be interpreted differently by different people. One person may have negative feelings about an event, while another might look at an event positively. A concrete fact can be persuaded and altered by emotions. People’s emotions also act as a filter for the information they choose to accept as a fact. For example, when teaching the Revolutionary War to students in America, it is taught as the “fight for independence” against the British who treated us unfairly. American children learn of “courageous heroes” and “brave soldiers” who won “justice for all”. This section takes up several chapters in most textbooks. However, students in Great Britain learn about this same war where “colonists became unsettled and rebelled (treason), which the King settled by relinquishing control of the colonies.” This same war would take up about two paragraphs in a British history textbook. Similarly, a suicide bomber might view his act as a religious duty while another person may see it as a terrorist act. History can be manipulated by the emotions of each person who carries on the stories of events in the past.
What is art without emotion? Many people go so far as to say that art is purely emotion. Art, music, and dance are all different mediums through which the artists convey their emotions. Emotion can be shown in the phrasing of music, the colors in a painting, or the movements to a dance. An artist or performer strives to make their audience feel different emotion as they are watching. In music specifically, a faster tempo to a song with major chords can make the listener smile or feel happy and content. However, slower softer music with minor chords can make the listener feel sad. Any of the arts have the power to invoke strong emotions. A beautiful opera will often bring an audience to tears. The emotions of the person on the receiving end of the performance will affect their interpretation of the arts. Someone who has just lost a loved one will often feel sadness and grief when they hear a slower, sadder song. Music, art, and dance can also make people feel better and happier. The arts can be very powerful over people’s emotions.
Very much like the arts, emotion plays a huge role in ethics. For any leader in an ethical role, whether it is an educator, minister, government official, they must make judgments. All judgments involve emotions. If a person is unable to feel any sort of emotion, they will not be able to properly make a decision. In religion, emotions go hand in hand with faith. A “good” pastor will be able to invoke emotions in his/her congregation. Ethics are largely based on morals. A person’s morals are tied to their emotions. A moral that a person feels strongly about will most likely cause them to have very strong emotions about what they believe in. However, sometimes emotions can interfere with the creation of objective knowledge that may be relevant to large groups of people with very different morals. A good ethical leader must distinguish between their own personal and emotional ties and what is proper and fair to all people.
Emotions can be found in all things; even some where it might be surprising. It would appear that life would be very dull with no emotions. But would there even be any life if emotions could not exist? This is a question that there will probably never be an answer to. However, it is important to express emotions and not take them for granted. They are powerful and can do miraculous things; but they can also take the world to a very dark place knocked out of balance.
