Why You Shouldn't Trust Your Feelings

Summary

This script explores the 'clear pane' theory of the mind, which suggests that our feelings and senses provide a reliable view of reality. However, drawing on ancient Greek skepticism, it argues that our perceptions are often distorted, affected by emotions, fatigue, and biases. From illusions like a bent stick in water to emotional moods clouding our judgment, the script emphasizes the importance of emotional skepticism. It encourages vigilance, suspension of judgment, and caution, especially in times of emotional or physical vulnerability, reminding us to wait for moods to pass before making decisions.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The 'clear pane' theory suggests our minds are like undistorted windows onto reality, but skepticism challenges this by arguing our perceptions are often flawed.
• 🤔 Skepticism, originating in Ancient Greece, warns against trusting our initial sensory impressions and advocates for rational scrutiny.
• 🌟 Skeptics view the mind as prone to errors, not as a clear pane, and recommend vigilance to avoid misunderstandings.
• 🌈 The Greeks used the example of a bent stick in water to illustrate how our senses can deceive us, indicating a broader truth about sensory fallibility.
• 🌞 Copernicus' heliocentric model was a significant skeptical victory, demonstrating that logical reasoning can overturn long-held sensory beliefs.
• 🌀 Moods are described as emotional weather that can significantly influence our judgments without our awareness, leading to potentially erroneous conclusions.
• 💤 Fatigue can distort our judgment, as noted by Nietzsche, causing us to entertain ideas we thought we had overcome.
• 💖 Lust can skew our perception, making us see positive qualities in others that may not exist outside of our desires.
• 🧐 The concept of 'Epoche' or 'suspension of judgment' is proposed as a method to counteract the influence of emotions on decision-making.
• 🛑 The script concludes that acknowledging the flaws in our minds and emotions can lead to better decision-making and a more realistic understanding of ourselves and the world.

Q & A

What is the 'clear pane' theory of the mind?

The 'clear pane' theory of the mind suggests that our feelings and perceptions are reliable guides to ourselves, the people around us, and the world, implying that our minds allow us to see the world without distortion, much like looking through a clear, undistorted pane of glass.

What is the philosophical school of thought that challenges the 'clear pane' theory?

Skepticism is the philosophical school of thought that challenges the 'clear pane' theory by arguing that our sensory first impressions are not always accurate and require rational scrutiny.

How did the ancient Greek skeptics use the example of a stick in water to illustrate the fallibility of our senses?

The ancient Greek skeptics used the example of a stick appearing to bend when partially submerged in water to demonstrate how our senses can deceive us, showing that what appears to be true (the stick bending) is not actually the case (the stick is straight).

How did skepticism influence the development of modern science?

Skeptical ideas were a leading force behind the development of modern science by promoting the questioning of sensory evidence and the reliance on logical reasoning, as exemplified by Copernicus's heliocentric model of the solar system.

In what ways do our emotions, such as moods, affect our judgment according to the script?

Our emotions, particularly moods, can have a decisive impact on our ideas and judgments. They can lead us to re-evaluate our circumstances and feelings towards others without any change in the external world, illustrating the influence of emotional weather on our mental state.

What role does tiredness play in distorting our judgment, as described in the script?

Tiredness can be a powerful agent that silently and invisibly perverts our judgment, causing us to entertain ideas we thought we had conquered, and leading us to make decisions based on fatigue rather than objective facts.

How does the script describe the influence of lust on our judgment?

The script suggests that lust can lead us to see qualities in a potential partner that may not actually exist, such as sensitivity and kindness, based on superficial attributes like physical attractiveness.

What is 'Epoche' and how does it relate to emotional skepticism?

'Epoche' is a concept recommended by ancient Greek skeptics, translated as 'reserve' or 'suspension of judgment.' It involves developing an attitude of caution and awareness of the misleading power of our feelings on our judgment, and not rushing into decisions.

Why have we been reluctant to recognize the benefits of emotional skepticism?

We have been reluctant to recognize the benefits of emotional skepticism due to historical influences, such as the Romantic movement of the 19th century, which promoted the idea that emotions are our guides to truth, rather than potential sources of error.

What practical advice does the script offer for counteracting the problems of our minds?

The script suggests that we should sometimes not listen to our feelings, wait for unhelpful moods to pass, and recognize our minds as fallible. It also advises moderating our impulses, watching over our diet, and striving to maintain a healthy sleep schedule.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The 'Clear Pane' Theory and Skepticism in Philosophy

This paragraph discusses the common belief that our feelings and perceptions provide an accurate reflection of reality, a notion termed the 'clear pane' theory. However, the philosophy of skepticism, which originated in Ancient Greece, challenges this idea. Skeptics argue that our senses are often unreliable, as illustrated by the classic example of a stick appearing bent in water but being straight when removed. This school of thought inspired modern science, with figures like Copernicus demonstrating that sensory impressions, such as the belief that the sun revolves around the Earth, can be misleading. The skeptics also applied this thinking to emotions, recognizing that moods can distort our judgments, even in personal matters. Their approach advocates for caution and rational analysis rather than trusting first impressions or feelings.

05:00

😴 Emotional Weather, Moods, and Distorted Judgment

This paragraph explores how emotions, particularly moods, can drastically alter our perceptions and judgments without us realizing their influence. Moods, like emotional weather, often come and go without us understanding their origin or their impact. For example, we may feel optimistic one moment, only to find everything bleak a few hours later, even if nothing has changed externally. The text highlights how factors such as tiredness and lust can distort our thinking. Tiredness, for instance, can resurrect negative thoughts we believed we had overcome, as noted by Nietzsche. Lust, similarly, can make us falsely attribute qualities to someone based solely on physical attraction. The paragraph concludes that recognizing these distortions is key to developing emotional skepticism.

🛑 The Philosophy of Emotional Skepticism and 'Epoche'

This paragraph delves into the concept of emotional skepticism, the practice of questioning the reliability of our feelings in shaping our judgments. The Ancient Greek skeptics advised adopting an attitude of 'Epoche,' or suspension of judgment, to prevent impulsive decisions influenced by emotions. They believed that by allowing ideas to settle over time and by being aware of the effects of tiredness and sexual excitement, we could develop clearer, more rational perspectives. However, modern culture, particularly influenced by the romantic movement of the 19th century, often encourages us to trust our emotions as guides to the truth. The paragraph argues that practicing emotional skepticism could help mitigate the distortions of the mind.

🌙 Embracing Skepticism: Waiting for Moods to Pass

The final paragraph encourages a more skeptical approach to emotions, suggesting that sometimes the best course of action is to not trust our feelings. Instead, we should allow unhelpful moods to pass, acknowledging that our perceptions are often distorted. By suspending judgment, moderating impulses, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and ensuring proper rest, we can better navigate the world with clearer minds. The paragraph concludes with a reminder that our bodies are fragile, our minds prone to distortion, and thus, emotional skepticism is essential for clearer thinking and decision-making.

Keywords

💡Clear pane theory of the mind

The 'clear pane' theory of the mind suggests that our feelings and perceptions offer an undistorted view of reality, like looking through a clean, transparent window. This idea reflects an optimistic belief in the reliability of our senses and emotions. However, the video challenges this view by arguing that our minds are full of distortions, and thus unreliable in understanding the world.

💡Skepticism

Skepticism is a philosophical school of thought that began in Ancient Greece, emphasizing doubt about the accuracy of our senses and perceptions. The video explains that skeptics, such as those from the third century B.C., believed that many of our initial impressions are misleading and should be critically examined through rational thought. Skepticism plays a central role in the video's argument that we should not trust our first feelings or perceptions.

💡Sensory fallibility

Sensory fallibility refers to the idea that our senses can easily deceive us, leading to mistaken impressions of the world. In the video, this concept is illustrated with the example of a stick appearing bent when partially submerged in water, though it remains straight when pulled out. This example symbolizes how often what we perceive is not an accurate reflection of reality.

💡Epoche

Epoche, meaning 'suspension of judgement,' is a concept from Ancient Greek skepticism. It advocates withholding immediate conclusions and allowing ideas to settle before making decisions. The video suggests that adopting this cautious approach to decision-making can help mitigate the influence of emotions and unreliable perceptions on our judgments.

💡Emotional skepticism

Emotional skepticism is the awareness that our emotions can distort our perception of reality and lead us to make flawed judgments. The video discusses how emotions like tiredness, lust, and mood swings can alter our understanding of situations and people, prompting us to question the reliability of our emotional responses. This skill is framed as a safeguard against impulsive or irrational behavior.

💡Mood

The concept of 'mood' refers to an emotional state that affects our perceptions and judgments without us realizing it. The video highlights how moods can drastically shift our outlook, making us feel positive one moment and pessimistic the next. This emotional instability underscores the need for emotional skepticism, as we may not recognize when our moods distort our views.

💡Tiredness

Tiredness is described as a powerful factor that can skew our judgment and lead us to revert to negative thoughts or behaviors. The video quotes Friedrich Nietzsche to emphasize that when we are tired, we may be influenced by ideas or feelings we thought we had overcome, showing how exhaustion can weaken our rationality and clarity.

💡Lust

Lust, as discussed in the video, is another emotional state that can cloud judgment and lead to poor decision-making. The example given is how lust can make someone appear more sensitive or suitable as a partner than they actually are, revealing the deceptive nature of emotions in personal relationships.

💡Romantic movement

The Romantic movement is referenced in the video as a cultural force that promoted the idea that emotions are reliable guides to truth. However, the video critiques this belief, suggesting that it has contributed to our collective reluctance to embrace emotional skepticism and recognize the fallibility of our feelings.

💡Distorted pane of glass

The 'distorted pane of glass' is a metaphor used to describe the flawed nature of our minds. Unlike the 'clear pane' theory, this metaphor reflects the idea that our thoughts and perceptions are warped and unreliable. The video uses this image to emphasize the importance of being cautious in trusting our first impressions and emotional responses.

Highlights

The 'clear pane' theory of the mind suggests our feelings are reliable guides to the world.

Skepticism, originating in Ancient Greece, challenges the accuracy of our sensory impressions.

Our minds are compared to windows with scratches, blind spots, and warps, rather than clear panes.

Wisdom is defined by the skeptics as being vigilant against the misinterpretation of reality by our feelings.

The Greeks used the bent stick in water illusion to illustrate the fallibility of our senses.

Skeptical ideas influenced the development of modern science, as seen with Copernicus' heliocentric model.

Skeptics are interested in how our emotions lead to errors in personal judgments.

Moods are described as emotional weather that can significantly impact our thoughts without our awareness.

Moods can lead to drastic re-evaluations of our circumstances without any external change.

The influence of moods is so pervasive that we often don't realize we are under their sway.

Tiredness can silently distort our judgment, as noted by Friedrich Nietzsche.

Lust can play with our judgment, making us see qualities that aren't there.

Arthur Schopenhauer humorously noted the disillusionment that can follow sexual desire.

Emotional skepticism is founded on the recognition of the flaws in our minds.

The Ancient Greeks recommended developing an attitude of 'Epoche' or suspension of judgment.

We should avoid rushing into decisions and be aware of the impact of emotions like sexual excitement and tiredness.

Emotional skepticism challenges the romantic notion that emotions are our guides to truth.

The benefits of sometimes not listening to our feelings and waiting for moods to pass are emphasized.

We are described as 'highly viscous bags of saline solution' with unreliable perceptions of reality.

The importance of suspending judgment, moderating impulses, watching over our diet, and getting enough sleep is highlighted.

Transcripts

It's easy to grow up with a sense that our feelings are reliable guides

to ourselves, the people around us, and the world at large.

We can call this optimistic thesis the 'clear pane' theory of the mind,

iImplying that we are able to look out onto the world

pretty much as if through an undistorted, and blemish-free pane of glass.

Yet a long tradition in philosophy has sought to warn us of a far trickier truth.

The school of thought, known as skepticism, that began in Ancient Greece in the third century B.C.

proposed that a great many of our solid-seeming sensory first impressions

should not be assumed to be accurate

and must instead be submitted to the laborious process of rational unscrambling.

Far from our minds being clear panes, they're full of scratches, blind spots and warps.

To be wise, therefore, means for the skeptics to strive to be permanently vigilant

no matter how much we're inclined to misunderstand reality

by trusting our first feelings.

One tiny instance of our distorting minds that particularly fascinated the Greeks

was a strange phenomenon that occurs when a stick is partially submerged in water.

It immediately seems as if the stick angles into a "V" just at the point where it meets the surface.

But, if we pull the stick out, we'll see that it's of course, still straight.

The skeptics took this tiny example as a gateway to a vast truth:

that our senses are humbling fallible.

The way things appear to us is often simply not how they, in fact, really are.

Skeptical ideas were to be the leading force behind the development of modern science.

In the middle of the 16th century, the Polish philosopher and astronomer Capernicus

demonstrated that whatever our senses might have suggested to us for hundreds of thousands of years,

according to logical reasoning, the truth is that the sun does not, in fact, revolve around the earth.

But the skeptics weren't only interested in the errors we fall into when doing astronomy--

they were fascinated by our tendencies to fall into error in our personal lives

under the influence of our emotions.

For example, our minds are seldom free of the influence of moods:

a kind of emotional weather that scouts over our mental horizons

normally without us having any understanding of where these moods have come from,

when they might lift,

or even that they exist.

However, these moods can have a decisive impact on our ideas.

We might in one mood consider ourselves fortunate

with a bright-lit future, and feel grateful to those around us.

And then, a few hours later, without anything in the outer world having changed,

another mood might lead us to a whole set of re-evaluation of almost everything about us.

Devilishly, part of what it means to be subject to a mood is not to realize that we are in its grip.

We simply feel that our friends, who we liked quite a lot yesterday, are no good.

And our job, which once offered us so much, is absurd.

Tiredness can be a particularly powerful agent that silently and invisibly perverts our judgement.

The 19th century skeptic, Friedrich Nietzsche, remarked,

"When we are tired, we are attacked by ideas we thought we'd conquered long ago."

Though crucially, it's extremely rare and counter intuitive to judge that it really might be tiredness

that's affecting our outlook rather than certain objective facts in the world.

We are keener to conclude that we've suddenly developed a deep resentment against humanity

that we urgently need to get to bed.

Lust can similarly play with our judgement,

leading us to see sensitivity, kindness, and a decent alternative to our current partner.

But there is, in truth, just an exceptionally beautiful profile

and perhaps not much else.

As the German skeptical philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, wryly concluded,

"Immediately after copulation, the devil's laughter can be heard."

Appreciating how flawed our minds are

forms the basis upon which the story on emotional skepticism is founded.

This skill, defined as a cautious awareness of the misleading power of our feelings on our judgement

Having surveyed the fragilities of our minds,

the Ancient Greek skeptical philosophers

recommended that we learn to develop an attitude of what they called "Epoche,"

translated as "reserve," or "suspension of judgement."

But where of our tendencies to error

we were never to rush into decisions.

We were to let our ideas settle

so that they could be re-evaluated at different points in time

and we were to be especially vigilant about the impact of sexual excitement and tiredness

on the formation of our plans.

For a range of historical reasons,

we've collectively been extremely reluctant to recognize the benefits of emotional skepticism.

The romantic movement of the 19th century

bequeathed us that beguiling would often distract solution

but it's our emotions that we always find us guides to the truth.

But we would've gone a long way to counteract the problems of our minds

if we sometimes do ourselves the honor of not listening to our feelings.

Instead, waiting for some unhelpful moods to pass

and accepting that we are at heart, highly viscous bags of saline solution

who stare out at reality via a highly unreliable and distorted pane of glass

and must therefore frequently suspend judgement, moderate our impulses,

watch over our diet, and strive to get to bed early.