A common but incorrect assumption is that we are creatures of reason when, in fact, we are creatures of both reason and emotion

We cannot get by on reason alone since any reason always eventually leads to a feeling

Should I get a wholegrain cereal or a chocolate cereal? I can list all the reasons I want, but the reasons have to be based on something

For example, if my goal is to eat healthy, I can choose the wholegrain cereal, but what is my reason for wanting to be healthy? I can list more and more reasons such as wanting to live longer, spending more quality time with loved ones, etc

, but what are the reasons for those reasons? You should be able to see by now that reasons are ultimately based on non‑reason such as values, feelings, or emotions

These deep‑seated values, feelings, and emotions we have are rarely a result of reasoning, but can certainly be influenced by reasoning

We have values, feelings, and emotions before we begin to reason and long before we begin to reason effectively