It seems to me as if you're merely just teaching a word

Praising a word

You teach virtue not through words, but by showing people how to muster their emotions to be disciplined

"muster their emotions to be disciplined"?

It's like strength training, there is a knowledge component in terms of skill, but they build that skill and they build their strength through practice

Are you implying that emotions must be cracked down upon?

That the very thing which separates man from beast must be destroyed

Animals most certainly have emotions

Oh, of course

they're certainly more fleshed out in humans, and we're able to express them to a greater degree

I'm talking in a more abstract sense, though

I suppose "beasts" or "monsters" would have been a more apt word

perhaps "machines", whatever word you care to use

Cracking down on emotions is a road to cruelty, to inexcusable behavior, not befitting of humankind

If you cannot control your emotions, you cannot keep promises, because you will only keep your promises until they become difficult and you no longer "feel" like it

I contend

That if one can "control" their emotions, they'd be more willing to break promises and oaths, as they'd feel no regret, no remorse, and no pity for having broken said agreement

Arguably, emotions reinforce oaths of loyalty and such

After all, it can be more pragmatic to backstab, lie, cheat, and steal

It's merely empathy keeping us in place

@Alice Redacted When you want to eat sugar and don't feel like exercising, your emotions are not a guide towards health. When you want to cheat on your spouse and then you feel guilty after cheating, the guilt wasn't an effective guide. Emotions are not rational. They don't plan ahead.

I'd argue that "love" is what prevents most from cheating on their spouse.

An emotion.

One major component of wisdom is developing the foresight to emotionally understand how acting poorly will effect you in the future at an emotional level

I'd argue that empathy is what prevents cruelty against other humans...

Hell, for instance,my current health eating habits aren't motivated by pragmatism, I'd just know I'd feel unhappy if I ate unhealthy foods and such

@Alice Redacted But when "love" wins out over lust, one emotion is winning out over another

@Alice Redacted no need to say "i'd argue" every time

Emotions are controlled

Odin.

What "pragmatic" reason is there to not cheat on your wife?

or to remain loyal to someone, despite a disadvantage?

Also, deal with it, 21.

Besides, we're ignoring the whole "humanitarian" angle

Shouldn't happiness be what all strive for?

Mind you, not recklessly so - but within reason

@Alice Redacted
You simply don't want the same thing all of the time. Wisdom in this case would be knowing that you need to muster your emotions so that you feel good in the future and that you act consistently with your greater emotional needs.

You cannot simply do whatever you feel like doing and act consistently with all emotions at all times. Some emotions are stronger at some times, and they contradict each other.

Are you talking about impulse control?

Impulses aren't emotions

Emotions aren't impulses