Eyal Winter (Lancaster University & Hebrew University): Feeling Smart: Why our Emotions are More Rational Than We Think

Public lecture in MUNI Social Sciences and Humanities Seminar Series

"Feeling Smart"  is the title of Eyal Winter's book that appeared 2015  with Perseus Books Group. The book deals with the relationship between our emotional being and our rational one, and the implications of this relationship to areas such as economics, business, romance, and social interactions. We shall address the following questions: Are emotions and rationality two separate systems? Can we synthesize emotions?  What is the difference between autonomous and interactive emotions? What is the role of altruism in promoting self‐interest? We shall also mention recent research findings on the "love hormone" Oxytocin, and in particular the implications for economic and social interactions. Finally, if time permits, we shall discuss how regret and our fear of regret shape our financial behavior.