Damasio’s mistake. Somatic marker application to political decision making‍

Authors

  • Roberto Losada Maestre Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18042/cepc/rep.186.03

Keywords:

Emotions, reason, politics, political theory, somatic marker.

Abstract

The growing importance that the study of emotions has acquired, with contributions from biology, neurology and even genetics, seems to have solved for some the traditional conflict with reason in favor of the emotions. The theory of the neurobiologist Antonio Damasio’s somatic marker has become one of the most relevant in this revitalization of the role of emotions. The theory establishes the existence of an internal system of preferences in the human being that offers a guide about which actions are best suited to been applied to political decision making. However, if it is possible to affirm that politics must consist of something other than rational mastery over passions, an aporia will arise since politics itself will be denied. The present paper shows that the emphasis on the emotional side of the human being is a new version of the old idea that sees politics as a reflection of evil and that considers the political activity as necessary insofar as evil exists. The stress on emotions, therefore, seems doomed to eliminate the politics.

Published

2019-12-05

Issue

Section

ARTICLES