Mr. Spock, Passion & Engineering David E. Goldberg University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois 61801 deg @illinois.edu (c) 2008 David E. Goldberg

From Pride to Passion Some engineers want to be emotionless like Mr. Spock of StarTrek? Really smart guy. Was logical & played 3D chess. What was his weakness?

Some engineers want to be emotionless like Mr. Spock of StarTrek?

Really smart guy.

Was logical & played 3D chess.

What was his weakness?

Myth of the Passions Emotions-passion something to be avoided or minimized: Stoics to rationalists. Passions as something that happens to us. Hydraulic metaphor: Have emotional energy, and it gets bottled up, then explodes. Maybe this works for anger, but what about love? Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Emotions-passion something to be avoided or minimized: Stoics to rationalists.

Passions as something that happens to us.

Hydraulic metaphor: Have emotional energy, and it gets bottled up, then explodes.

Maybe this works for anger, but what about love?

Emotions: What Are They? If emotions are not things that happen to us, what are they? Emotions are intentional: Oriented at objects. Emotions are judgments. Maintain personal dignity and self-esteem.

If emotions are not things that happen to us, what are they?

Emotions are intentional: Oriented at objects.

Emotions are judgments.

Maintain personal dignity and self-esteem.

Mr. Spock Revisited Wish you were emotionless like Mr. Spock of StarTrek? Think again. Captain Kirk was the better strategic thinker for a reason. Spock had trouble making judgments. Emotionlessness left him unable to judge.

Wish you were emotionless like Mr. Spock of StarTrek?

Think again.

Captain Kirk was the better strategic thinker for a reason.

Spock had trouble making judgments.

Emotionlessness left him unable to judge.

Emotion & Judgment Interlaced Your emotions are the source of your ability to choose. They are the wellspring of your values. And they are source of your engineering judgment. Don’t want emotions run amok, but don’t deny their importance. Development of emotional intelligence important to engineers at work.

Your emotions are the source of your ability to choose.

They are the wellspring of your values.

And they are source of your engineering judgment.

Don’t want emotions run amok, but don’t deny their importance.

Development of emotional intelligence important to engineers at work.