Are feeling neutral?

[Everlasting33]

I realize the subject is mostly psychological, but this seemed to be the best place to put this thread...since social sciences is not as popular.

I have read that feelings are neutral, according to Dorothy Corkille Briggs from Your Child's Self-Esteem. She reasons that feelings are simply reflections of our thoughts and there is no reason to label feelings "good" or "bad."

I have asked many people this question and none of them really know.

so, do bad thoughts equal bad feelings?

What are your thoughts?

 

[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

I realize the subject is mostly psychological, but this seemed to be the best place to put this thread...since social sciences is not as popular.

I have read that feelings are neutral, according to Dorothy Corkille Briggs from Your Child's Self-Esteem. She reasons that feelings are simply reflections of our thoughts and there is no reason to label feelings "good" or "bad."

I have asked many people this question and none of them really know.

so, do bad thoughts equal bad feelings?

What are your thoughts?

What do you mean by good and bad? Feelings are reflections of the nothingness of the consciousness...if i got that correct.

 

[Everlasting33]

Should we equate feelings of guilt, remorse, resentment, and anger as BAD?

 

[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

Societically yes, since it is society that creates the fields that create the boundries between right and wrong on the basis that we pursue to provoke happiness and nuetralize painful experience.

 

[Everlasting33]

Societically yes, since it is society that creates the fields that create the boundries between right and wrong on the basis that we pursue to provoke happiness and nuetralize painful experience.

I see your point but I was thinking that if we label those feelings as bad, we are more likely to repress them and that may cause even more problems.

 

[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

I see your point but I was thinking that if we label those feelings as bad, we are more likely to repress them and that may cause even more problems.

Thats the basis that Freuds subconscious was created, and the ego that helped distribute bad memory and perception into the subconscious. Though i find flaws in Freuds subconscious theory, such as supressing bad memories...but you still are aware of those bad memories, they dont hide in the background controlling and creating emotions without you knowing they are doing it....i dont find that appeasable...but that is probably because of my existential philosophy.

 

[Foolish_Fool]

The "goodness" vs "badness" of feelings has more to do with how you deal with them as opposed to feeling them. A person who lets their emotions control them and has no self restraint could have bad effects from feelings such as anger. Where as a person with better control would not act rashly when feeling angry.

It's all so subjective that trying to label them is meaningless.

 

[The Nihilist]

I really think it depends on just who it is that you're feeling

 

[TheNewAge]

I have asked many people this question and none of them really know.

so, do bad thoughts equal bad feelings?

What are your thoughts?

I have a good thought:

The STEELERS will win it all again this year (2007-2008 season).

Sorry, that had nothing to do with the topic-- wrong forum...(I knew I should have taken that left turn at Albequerque...)

 

[Eudaimonist]

Should we equate feelings of guilt, remorse, resentment, and anger as BAD?

I assume what she means is:

• Feelings arise naturally as subconsciously initiated reactions to circumstances due to one's values and psychological makeup, not as a matter of conscious choice
• Moral evalation only applies to what someone consciously chooses, and can therefore take responsibility for
• Judging someone or something as "bad" implies a moral evaluation
• Therefore, neither people nor feelings should be judged as "bad"

If this is what she means, I agree, with some qualifications.

How we act on our feelings is subject to moral evaluation. No one is a bad person simply for feeling anger, nor should the feeling of anger be judged as bad in and of itself. However, people who strike someone out of anger may be acting badly, and people who have anger management issues who don't face up to their problem and take action to reduce those feelings may be bad people.

Also, there is the sense that bad can simply mean "harmful", instead of "immoral". Habitual anger can possibly be psychologically unhealthy and damaging.

So, I agree with her, though with the caution not to overapply her words.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[quatona]

I have read that feelings are neutral, according to Dorothy Corkille Briggs from Your Child's Self-Esteem. She reasons that feelings are simply reflections of our thoughts and there is no reason to label feelings "good" or "bad."

The fact that some feelings feel good and others feel bad is sufficient reason for me to call them good and bad feelings.
Beyond this subjective distinction I wouldn´t know why to attach valuating terms to feelings.

so, do bad thoughts equal bad feelings?

I think it is useful to distinguish between thoughts and feelings.

What are your thoughts?

Good.

 

[quatona]

Should we equate feelings of guilt, remorse, resentment, and anger as BAD?

I don´t like "should" sentences.
How do they feel?
In my personal experience guilt, remorse, resentment, anger, wrath, jealousy, reproach, envy, vengeance , frustration, fear, hate (just from the top of my head) make me feel miserable.