Philosophically, is fear a good thing to help guide our decisions?

[Paco Dennis]

To get a short overview of this query lets see what the internet says in brief :

Fear can play both positive and negative roles in decision-making, but it should not be the primary guiding factor. While fear can serve as a protective mechanism, excessive fear often leads to poor choices and missed opportunities
1
2
.On the positive side, fear can:

1. Alert us to potential dangers
2. Motivate us to take action
3. Encourage careful consideration of decisions

However, fear becomes problematic when it:

1. Causes overthinking and analysis paralysis
   2
2. Leads to avoidance of important decisions
   2
3. Results in short-term thinking that creates long-term problems
   2

Philosophers and thinkers have offered various perspectives on fear and decision-making:​

Stoic approach​

The Stoics advocated for recognizing and managing our fears rather than eliminating them entirely. Epictetus suggested that philosophy's role is to "respond to the soul's cry" and free us from the hold of our fears
4
. This involves:

• Examining our fears rationally
• Distinguishing between rational and irrational fears
• Focusing on what is within our control

Existentialist view​

Existentialist philosophers like Sartre and Kierkegaard saw anxiety as inherent in choice, as each decision closes off certain possibilities
3
. They emphasized:

• Accepting responsibility for our choices
• Embracing the freedom to choose, despite the anxiety it may cause

Modern perspectives​

Contemporary thinkers suggest a balanced approach:

1. Recognize that some level of fear is natural and can be beneficial
2. Develop "right fears" that motivate positive action rather than paralysis
   4
3. Practice negative visualization to build resilience against potential setbacks
   4

In conclusion, while fear shouldn't be the primary guide for decisions, acknowledging and managing our fears can lead to more thoughtful and courageous choices. The key is to cultivate a balanced approach that neither ignores nor is overly controlled by fear.

My thoughts on this :
Rational fears are good for guidance in making right and safe choices. Sometimes we have an instinct that something is wrong, and we don't know what to do? Fear can unlock other similar feelings that are not appropriate for the situation we are in. I am not sure we have any control on what we fear or how much. I would tend to the Existentialist philosophy that living with eyes wide open to how much fear dominates our choices, and to be aware of that , to lead a realistic existence.

 

[Tazx]

To get a short overview of this query lets see what the internet says in brief :

Fear can play both positive and negative roles in decision-making, but it should not be the primary guiding factor. While fear can serve as a protective mechanism, excessive fear often leads to poor choices and missed opportunities​

1​

2​

.On the positive side, fear can:​

​

1. Alert us to potential dangers
2. Motivate us to take action
3. Encourage careful consideration of decisions

However, fear becomes problematic when it:​

1. Causes overthinking and analysis paralysis
   2
2. Leads to avoidance of important decisions
   2
3. Results in short-term thinking that creates long-term problems
   2

Philosophers and thinkers have offered various perspectives on fear and decision-making:​

Stoic approach​

The Stoics advocated for recognizing and managing our fears rather than eliminating them entirely. Epictetus suggested that philosophy's role is to "respond to the soul's cry" and free us from the hold of our fears
4
. This involves:

• Examining our fears rationally
• Distinguishing between rational and irrational fears
• Focusing on what is within our control

Existentialist view​

Existentialist philosophers like Sartre and Kierkegaard saw anxiety as inherent in choice, as each decision closes off certain possibilities
3
. They emphasized:

• Accepting responsibility for our choices
• Embracing the freedom to choose, despite the anxiety it may cause

Modern perspectives​

Contemporary thinkers suggest a balanced approach:

1. Recognize that some level of fear is natural and can be beneficial
2. Develop "right fears" that motivate positive action rather than paralysis
   4
3. Practice negative visualization to build resilience against potential setbacks
   4

In conclusion, while fear shouldn't be the primary guide for decisions, acknowledging and managing our fears can lead to more thoughtful and courageous choices. The key is to cultivate a balanced approach that neither ignores nor is overly controlled by fear.

My thoughts on this :
Rational fears are good for guidance in making right and safe choices. Sometimes we have an instinct that something is wrong, and we don't know what to do? Fear can unlock other similar feelings that are not appropriate for the situation we are in. I am not sure we have any control on what we fear or how much. I would tend to the Existentialist philosophy that living with eyes wide open to how much fear dominates our choices, and to be aware of that , to lead a realistic existence.

Good post. I believe this has led to many of the current problems we are experiencing today.

I think the Stoic approach is the most simplistic view of the philosophy of fear.

It's simple rational vs irrational.
If you look at it from the basics;
Being down an alley with a barking dog, having a weapon pointed at you, getting swept out to sea without knowing how to swim are all situations a normal person would consider life-threatening. This would also holds true if the threat is directed toward someone or something you love. Fear of your child crossing the street alone is also rational, as there’s a real threat from the vehicles on the road.
All completely normal and rational.

When fear becomes a phobia is where problems occur.

Fears of a spider is understandable, but the fear and reaction to a picture of a spider is irrational. Then it become a phobia.
Irrational fears are simply that-irrational. In no way can the fear be justified. Sometimes an irrational fear stems from a common rational fear, but the response is so disproportionate that it becomes unnecessarily debilitating, such as fear of public spaces or agoraphobia. Sure, there is possibility of being trampled or attacked, but the reality is so miniscule that it become irrational to such a degree it becomes a phobia.

The human body's innate ability to react instantly and respond with fight or flight has largely been overrun/frankly destroyed by social media and society in general. I believe that is why we now have so many phobias and anxiety.

 

[Paco Dennis]

Yesterday one of the short videos I saw quoted Carl Jung, ( the famous psychoanalyst ) as saying by paraphrase "The spirit of evil against the life force is fear. Only boldness can deliver us from fear and if risk is not taken the meaning of life is violated." Wow! I thought. It is what I wanted to express in my OP here.

I thought of an analogy that expresses this. We are in a large dark room. There is no light, and it is pitch dark. As we move about the room we have all kinds of "things" in the way. most of them are small and just trip us up some, and then some are so large that they stop us and we have to find another way to go to keep going.

We can go out of our way and find a detour around these seemingly insurmountable objects, or we can shine our energy light. We are afraid to use it because it shows our location and we imagine that the other obstacles will close in on us knowing where we are. I know this is irrational but our basic instincts are very primitive and animal like.

So we find ways to dance around our fears, and to find a satisfactory way of life, or not. But, when that nagging feeling comes about, and our stomach tightens and when our feelings of freedom close in on us, we usually find the most convenient way of escaping the obstacle ( fear ). What is we stopped and paused right there. Then take the time to bring to light that which has been hidden there, and something we run into a lot. There is no rush, and we can learn so much from this image becoming clear to us. As it does we find it is a constructed image made out of our fantastic brain. Now that we have shined our light on this fear, we won't bump into it as much.

 

[bobcat]

I loved the stoics, and especially their grasp on this simple concept that unfortunately eludes so many. It seems elementary, but somehow it had gone unrealized to me until I read it. It is this:

We appear to go through life reacting directly to events and all else in the world. However, that appearance is simply an illusion. We actually react to our interpretation of those events. We react to our judgments and opinions and to our thoughts about those things. They are so familiar to us that we forget we have them, and they occur without notice. To understand this concept and to take notice of it as it happens is foundational to stoicism.

These reactions and the interpretations that produce them are largely based on our experiences, our beliefs, and what we desire to believe. With few exceptions, we just instinctively respond to whatever ideas and opinions that pass through our minds with no more scrutiny than we give to the air we breathe.

Many things that we immediately perceive are deceptions, and not what they appear to be. We are often mistaken. We see what we want to see and hear what we want to hear. Reality is distorted for us, and it happens a lot more often than anyone realizes.

The belief system we hold becomes the gatekeeper to the mind, only letting in what reenforces the belief. You wouldn't think we would lie to ourselves, but we do it frequently. Ther are numerous books written about it, including "How I Know What Isn't So". The best advice is to be a skeptic about everything to make sure your beliefs are based on valid information.

Another guidepost I try to remember is the old adage that "Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing".
If you know what is right, then that should be enough. However, some things aren't about right or wrong, and I often have the problem of decision paralysis. I think it is rooted in my disdain for regret. That being said, I try to remember not to end up like Buridan's Ass and starve to death from indecision.

Sometimes we simply can't know the right decision, and in my case, I try to remember another bit of wisdom, something to the effect of: "He who makes a mistake, and doesn't go back and correct it has made two mistakes". So, I realize I am only human and I'm going to make mistakes, and when I do, I will remedy them, and if I can't, I will learn from them.

 

[Tazx's_better_half]

Good post. I believe this has led to many of the current problems we are experiencing today.

I think the Stoic approach is the most simplistic view of the philosophy of fear.

It's simple rational vs irrational.
If you look at it from the basics;
Being down an alley with a barking dog, having a weapon pointed at you, getting swept out to sea without knowing how to swim are all situations a normal person would consider life-threatening. This would also holds true if the threat is directed toward someone or something you love. Fear of your child crossing the street alone is also rational, as there’s a real threat from the vehicles on the road.
All completely normal and rational.

When fear becomes a phobia is where problems occur.

Fears of a spider is understandable, but the fear and reaction to a picture of a spider is irrational. Then it become a phobia.
Irrational fears are simply that-irrational. In no way can the fear be justified. Sometimes an irrational fear stems from a common rational fear, but the response is so disproportionate that it becomes unnecessarily debilitating, such as fear of public spaces or agoraphobia. Sure, there is possibility of being trampled or attacked, but the reality is so miniscule that it become irrational to such a degree it becomes a phobia.

The human body's innate ability to react instantly and respond with fight or flight has largely been overrun/frankly destroyed by social media and society in general. I believe that is why we now have so many phobias and anxiety.

Spiders and other arachnids can induce extreme fear in people, leading to arachnophobia. However, facing your fears head on is a powerful remedy.

In my case, holding Emily the tarantula at the Bug Zoo made me realize that, while I was terrified-- to the point of blacking out- she was too.

That experience caused me to think that, while I am scared of spiders they have the right to live, and that I don't have the right to kill them just because they scare me - unless they are in my bathroom!

 

[Tazx's_better_half]

To get a short overview of this query lets see what the internet says in brief :

Fear can play both positive and negative roles in decision-making, but it should not be the primary guiding factor. While fear can serve as a protective mechanism, excessive fear often leads to poor choices and missed opportunities​

1​

2​

.On the positive side, fear can:​

​

1. Alert us to potential dangers
2. Motivate us to take action
3. Encourage careful consideration of decisions

However, fear becomes problematic when it:​

1. Causes overthinking and analysis paralysis
   2
2. Leads to avoidance of important decisions
   2
3. Results in short-term thinking that creates long-term problems
   2

Philosophers and thinkers have offered various perspectives on fear and decision-making:​

Stoic approach​

The Stoics advocated for recognizing and managing our fears rather than eliminating them entirely. Epictetus suggested that philosophy's role is to "respond to the soul's cry" and free us from the hold of our fears
4
. This involves:

• Examining our fears rationally
• Distinguishing between rational and irrational fears
• Focusing on what is within our control

Existentialist view​

Existentialist philosophers like Sartre and Kierkegaard saw anxiety as inherent in choice, as each decision closes off certain possibilities
3
. They emphasized:

• Accepting responsibility for our choices
• Embracing the freedom to choose, despite the anxiety it may cause

Modern perspectives​

Contemporary thinkers suggest a balanced approach:

1. Recognize that some level of fear is natural and can be beneficial
2. Develop "right fears" that motivate positive action rather than paralysis
   4
3. Practice negative visualization to build resilience against potential setbacks
   4

In conclusion, while fear shouldn't be the primary guide for decisions, acknowledging and managing our fears can lead to more thoughtful and courageous choices. The key is to cultivate a balanced approach that neither ignores nor is overly controlled by fear.

My thoughts on this :
Rational fears are good for guidance in making right and safe choices. Sometimes we have an instinct that something is wrong, and we don't know what to do? Fear can unlock other similar feelings that are not appropriate for the situation we are in. I am not sure we have any control on what we fear or how much. I would tend to the Existentialist philosophy that living with eyes wide open to how much fear dominates our choices, and to be aware of that , to lead a realistic existence.

I agree, people miss out on so many great experiences in life just because of the fear of trying and trusting themselves.

 

[Mr. Ed]

I have not registered fear in my life for a long time so I don't think about.
Fear is an illusion projecting the worse of possible scenerios causing worry and desperation.

The only time I was truly afraid was when I strayed away from my parents as a young child and felt lost in a large zoo. I found myself walking in circles over and over again without knowing where I was or would ever see my parents again.

All other fears were superficial and without warrant. I don't know how I would react to fear today, it would take something that I had no control over while facing impending doom. It would not death but more likely fear for someone else.

 

[Tazx's_better_half]

I loved the stoics, and especially their grasp on this simple concept that unfortunately eludes so many. It seems elementary, but somehow it had gone unrealized to me until I read it. It is this:

We appear to go through life reacting directly to events and all else in the world. However, that appearance is simply an illusion. We actually react to our interpretation of those events. We react to our judgments and opinions and to our thoughts about those things. They are so familiar to us that we forget we have them, and they occur without notice. To understand this concept and to take notice of it as it happens is foundational to stoicism.

These reactions and the interpretations that produce them are largely based on our experiences, our beliefs, and what we desire to believe. With few exceptions, we just instinctively respond to whatever ideas and opinions that pass through our minds with no more scrutiny than we give to the air we breathe.

Many things that we immediately perceive are deceptions, and not what they appear to be. We are often mistaken. We see what we want to see and hear what we want to hear. Reality is distorted for us, and it happens a lot more often than anyone realizes.

The belief system we hold becomes the gatekeeper to the mind, only letting in what reenforces the belief. You wouldn't think we would lie to ourselves, but we do it frequently. Ther are numerous books written about it, including "How I Know What Isn't So". The best advice is to be a skeptic about everything to make sure your beliefs are based on valid information.

Another guidepost I try to remember is the old adage that "Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing".
If you know what is right, then that should be enough. However, some things aren't about right or wrong, and I often have the problem of decision paralysis. I think it is rooted in my disdain for regret. That being said, I try to remember not to end up like Buridan's Ass and starve to death from indecision.

Sometimes we simply can't know the right decision, and in my case, I try to remember another bit of wisdom, something to the effect of: "He who makes a mistake, and doesn't go back and correct it has made two mistakes". So, I realize I am only human and I'm going to make mistakes, and when I do, I will remedy them, and if I can't, I will learn from them.

Excellent post - " doing the right thing is never the wrong thing" is something we always reminded our kids of.

Admission of mistakes, or wrong doings is a great release of any shame or emotional pressure- turning a bad situation that one holds on too into a life lesson- as, essentially that is what a mistake is.

 

[Repondering]

My fears are a useful survival mechanisms when they alert me to an authentic danger.
But when fear activates in response to situations that aren't reasonably dangerous, then fear becomes a hindrance to my well being.
It then enters into the region of poor mental hygiene.

Fear can be a helpful comrade but it's a bad master.

 

[bobcat]

I pondered this topic before drifting off to sleep, and I remembered something Nelson Mandela once said:
"May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears". It conveyed a profound message to me about the choices we all make that shape our lives. I think it draws attention to the motivations driving our decisions.

Fear has served us well throughout evolution by playing it safe and avoiding risks, but I think when fear is allowed to take control, then the candle of hope can be extinguished. I kinda picture fear and hope as two Jiminy Cricket figures sitting on my opposite shoulders, whispering in my ears about possible consequences. Both can make salient points to influence my choices, but who should I listen to?

But then I remember that courage isn't the absence of fear. I picture a courageous tightrope walker stepping onto a thin wire suspended high above the ground. Fear courses through his veins, yet he resists its power, refusing to let it overwhelm him. With each step, he gains confidence and masters his fear, despite heart pounding with adrenaline. In this moment, fear and courage intertwine, existing simultaneously within the courageous soul. If the walker let the fear voice win, he would never learn to have confidence in his abilities.

Somehow the goal has to become more important than the risk. If that doesn't happen, we become fear's prisoner, and perhaps it's grip is even more pronounced in the future, and we are never able to fully embrace life's opportunities. Courage doesn't walk on the battlefield without fear.

Our choices should reflect our hopes rather than our fears. We don't ignore the fear. We acknowledge it and move forward if the reward is more important to us and our future.

 

[HermitHogan]

Fear causes us to buy high and sell low.

We buy high because we're afraid of missing out on the rally, but then when the stock tanks, we're afraid of losing even more.

Fear makes for terrible investors.

 

[Tazx]

Fear is a powerful motive for sure. Make you do things you don't want to, don't think you can, or haven't ever done.
I remember my first time rappelling out of a helo. Scary as heck, didn't want to do it, but I had to as part of training. So I did it and it was awesome. Same as open ocean swims/dives. So much vastness, the fear always tries to creep in. Fear propels you but keeps you aware of the danger. It can be the most powerful weapon.

 

[Paco Dennis]

Fear causes us to buy high and sell low.

We buy high because we're afraid of missing out on the rally, but then when the stock tanks, we're afraid of losing even more.

Fear makes for terrible investors.

I am not quite sure. Fear can make us pause before taking a risky venture. That pause can turn into a decision that we regret. We should have taken the risk. Many times is what we don't allow to happen keeps us from being free.

 

[Marcy Sheiner]

My basic philosophy on this is : Feel the fear and do it anyway. Or, as Georgia O'Keefe said, "I've been scared every day of my life and it never stopped me from doing anything I wanted to do."

 

[Paco Dennis]

My basic philosophy on this is : Feel the fear and do it anyway. Or, as Georgia O'Keefe said, "I've been scared every day of my life and it never stopped me from doing anything I wanted to do."

Taking risks is the way to go, but it is dangerous sometimes. Expect the unexpected, but isn't that the way we learn?