Self Observation and Inquiry in the Generation of Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

Introduction:  Given that perception is so sensitive to emotion and given that truth is so sensitive to perception, it behooves us to attend closely to the relationship between these factors particularly if we think education has something to do with truth. This paper focuses primarily upon one of these factors, namely emotion, and in particular what has come to be known as Emotional Intelligence (EQ). An argument is made in favor of broadening and deepening the popular definition of EQ, and in so doing, much is implied about the limits of perception and hence, ‘truth’. The paper moves towards establishing a need for the recognition of conditioned emotion both as a phenomenon affecting our daily life as well as a phenomenon about which much scientific research on ‘emotion’ more generally, may actually be focused. To this end, the paper begins with a consideration of research in these areas and what one may necessarily conclude, and then extends itself to a more comprehensive understanding of what it could mean to be ‘emotionally intelligent’.