Abstract

This Project Demonstrating Excellence introduces the concept of emotional intelligence, a faculty of consciousness heretofore overlooked. A rigorous theoretical and philosophical framework is developed to throw light on the nature and characteristics of emotion and emotional intelligence and to enable us to explore how one actually goes about developing emotional intelligence--in self and, by way of education, in others. ;Evidence is presented that the mass suppression of emotion throughout the civilized world has stifled our growth emotionally, leading us down a path of emotional ignorance. Indeed, many of the problems facing society today are the direct result of emotional ignorance: depression, addiction, illness, religious conflict, violence and war. Perhaps we humans have tried too hard to "civilize" ourselves, trying to deny our true animal nature--our emotional nature--along the way. Whatever our motivation, however, we have not done this out of any inherent evil nature. We've done this because we have had the wrong idea altogether about the nature of emotion and the important function it serves in our lives. ;This work is intended to be a prototype of a guidebook on developing emotional intelligence. It offers guidance in three ways: by raising important issues and questions about emotion; by providing a language and framework to enable us to examine and talk about the issues and questions raised; and by providing concepts, methods and tools for developing emotional intelligence. ;Since emotional intelligence involves relating creatively to fear, pain and desire, these states are explored in detail and guidance is offered on how to relate to them in emotionally intelligent ways