Can someone review my GRE issue essay please? Thanks in advance :)

[anonk]

People who make decisions based on emotion and justify those decisions with logic afterwards are poor decision makers.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

 

 

The claim is that that people who make decisions based on emotion and justify those decisions with logic afterwards are poor decision makers. In general, it is better to think through the brain rather than through the heart. People inclined to take decisions based on their emotions might not be in the best state of mind in order to take an unbiased stand. They would not be in a position to weigh the pros and cons of the different alternatives available to them. It only gets worse if they try to support their emotional decisions by means of logic later instead of trying to refute them with a fair mind.

Logic should always take the precedence over emotions in decision-making. If the alternatives that one is present with are not obfuscated by emotions, it would be more natural for the person to take a rational decision. For example, big business moves need to be calculated based on the current market situations and trends rather than paying heed to any past grudges that the company might have. I am referring to the Mark Zuckerberg's decision to buy Whatsapp and form a collaboration instead of sulk over the competition that it was providing.

The issue holds true not just in big businesses; it can prove true even in commonplace activities. For instance, in a situation where a teacher takes a liking to a particular student, deciding on who should get what roles should be based on logic and not emotions. While the teacher might be drawn towards assigning the major role to the student in question, there is no denying the fact that it makes no sense to cast someone who is not appropriate for the part. Imagine how weird it would seem to cast a girl in Abraham Lincoln's role or a white child for Nelson Mandela's role! There would be no justification in stating that such decisions were right irrespective of how well the child can perform.

Also supporting the issue is the fact that there will be situations where the decision-maker will be torn apart in different directions due to varying emotions. Consider, for example, a familiar scene where a man is torn between his mother and his wife. In such a situation, he cannot let his emotions override him as emotionally, he will want to support both parties. The best thing for the man here would be to think with a clever mind and plan the next course of action logically.

So do people who make decisions based on emotion and justify those decisions with logic afterwards end up being poor decision makers? In most cases, yes, as supported by the various examples cited. It is up to the discretion of the person to best weigh the situation at hand and come up with a logical solution rather than an emotional one.

Edited October 26, 2014 by anonk