Strong emotions - essential to being human, but also (seemingly) problematic. Some of them we crave (like love or joy), some of them we avoid (like hatred or despair).
Trouble is, whether you’re thinking of the ‘good’ ones (like love) or the ‘bad’ ones (like hate), we all have them. In fact, I think we all have all of them at some time or another, even if we can’t admit to it.]
There is a long and venerable tradition in philosophy of thinking about the emotions (or, more archaically, the passions). Generally speaking, the view of many philosophies (and religions) is that we should avoid being too swept up in strong emotions, whether good or bad.
For many ancient Greek philosophers, for example, our goal, especially when it comes our inner lives, should be moderation. Equanimity - internal serenity and peaceableness - this, to them, was desirable. The turbulence of any strong feeling - love or hatred, joy or despair - is to be avoided. You find similar reasoning in Christianity and Buddhi…
