Reflections in the ordinary language of the unity between thought and emotions

Abstract

Thought and emotions have been conventionally considered to be areas apart. In the West this point of view has been endorsed by a millennial religious and philosophical tradition. The author of this paper claims that separation between thought and emotions is not as deep as is often assumed, especially as far as the experience of value is concerned, which is usually ascribed to thought, since it reveals our emotional constitution. In fact, as the author points out, many expressions of the ordinary language show a double meaning: they sometimes denote facts, sometimes denote values. Thought, therefore, fluctuates between declarative statements and evaluative judgements.