be distracting ourselves from attaining reason and flourishing, by giving too much attention to our desires. Aristotle gives emotion a more important role than Plato does; he emphasizes that if emotions are experienced at the right time in the right way they are beneficial to human flourishing. In Aristotle's mind if the context of the emotion is appropriate, then the emotion itself can be construed as being helpful to attaining moral virtue. If we feel pleasure doing the right thing, express it as appropriate to that, then emotion is a good thing, and will help us flourish.Aristotle also believes that the soul has two aspects, rational and irrational. Under the rational aspect lies contemplative and practical reason; under the irrational aspects lie the vegetative element, desires, and emotions. He believes though, that in the perfect circumstance emotion and desire can be rational, thus allowing individuals the ability to express strong emotions. It is important for the individual to use practical reasoning to attain and categorize emotion as rational. While Plato's view supports emotion less then Aristotle's, both philosophers seem to realize that if emotion in felt correctly it can in the attainment of human flourishing. Both men seem to draw deeply in the idea that early education can help us "feel" the right moral way; good when we do right, bad when we do wrong. These rights and wrongs are dependent on Plato and Aristotle's view of the soul's perfect state, so in accepting the social ideals of what is inherently good we must accept the philosophers' ideas of what the soul reflects. I tend to lean toward the view of Aristotle more than Plato when discussing human emotions, Aristotle leaves more room for flexibility in his discussions. I would not want to be part of a world where my experiences are not based on what desire but rather what I find is reasonable. I understand and agree that reason is an important and respec...
