unspeakablehorror | Appeals To Emotion (Reply)

I think an important thing to understand about me is that I feel emotions are important, but I'm unlikely to put much weight in appeals to emotion. Because emotions aren't the only thing that is important. I don't believe our emotions give us any ultimate control or indication of reality, they are simply an indicator of what we need or want and what we believe will fulfill those needs or wants. But different people need or want different things, so one thing where there needs to be some common ground for such an appeal to work is what the people involved need or want. Another essential place where common ground is necessary for emotional appeals to work is an agreement of facts regarding the issue in question. But if there is both agreement in values and agreement in facts about the issue under discussion, the other party already agrees with you, and no effort in persuasion is necessary.

If, however, there is significant disagreement in values or facts, and persuasion is relevant, the only thing an emotional appeal will communicate is that you have a mismatch of values or beliefs about facts with the other person, not any reason why the other person should change their mind about this.