Hume is particularly concerned with analyzing our practical reasoning, our reasoning about how to act. Passions are the engine for all our deeds: without passions we would lack all motivation, all impulse or drive to act, or even to reason (practically or theoretically). This gives at least one sense in which “reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions” (T II.3.3 415). Hume also holds that the passions are not themselves directly subject to rational evaluation. In fact, it seems something of a category mistake to think that they could be either rational or irrational. Passions are impressions – strong and lively perceptions with a certain “feel” and a direction, or impulse. Reasoning, however, is a matter of connecting various ideas in order to come to a belief; it may apply to, or even form, the circumstances under which passions arise. But reason can generate no impulse by itself.
Is that possible for a conscious individual to experience actual hunger, thirst, or physical pain without thinking about them?The thought or belief of hunger, thirst, or physical pain isn't the same thing as experiencing actual hunger, thirst, or physical pain — TranscendedRealms
Your child is avoiding sleep by thinking of reasons to leave their bed. You would like to sleep. After many rounds of this ongoing situation, your emotional response could be frustration. In frustration one could consider the value of the scenario negative or annoying - or ascribe the value as "bad", but upon further investigation we can conclude that the scenario *does* retain value. I believe value does not stop at emotion, but that emotion plays a factor in our ability to assess a situation to deduce it's value. — Lif3r
I don't recall a single given moment in my life where thoughts and beliefs allowed me to value things. My positive emotions have always been the only way I could value things in my life as beautiful, amazing, good, or magnificent. My negative emotions have always been the only way I could value things as horrible, bad, disgusting, or tragic. — TranscendedRealms
Have you come to realize that your emotions are the real value judgments and that your thoughts aren't? The truth, in this case, is discovered from looking within. So, it was never about arguing about it like you and others are doing. — TranscendedRealms
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