1. Do emotions distort the perception of knowledge?

2. On 6 January 2021, a riot at the U.S Capitol, in Washington D.C. occurred. During Donald

Trump’s “Save America” rally, at which the former president talked about the elections

of the United States, that he claimed were “stolen” from Americans, supporters of D.

Trump walked down to the Capitol and assaulted it.

3. To what extent can emotions shape our perception of knowledge?

4. Donald Trump “Save America” rally’s speech used figurative language mentioning, in

former president’s word, the presidential elections were stolen from Americans. D.

Trump’s supporters, that attended the rally, were emotional after J. Biden won, not D.

Trump, and believed that the elections were false, forged. People felt betrayed. Thus,

the former president’s emotional and strong language, words were understood in the

literal meaning: “If you don’t fight like hell you’re not going to have a country

anymore.”; “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and we’re going to cheer on our

brave senators and congressmen and women, and we’re probably not going to be

cheering so much for some of them.” (Cabral, 2021) President’s words used figurative

language and did not have a negative meaning, although, people, instead of peaceful

gathering, assaulted the Capitol.

5.

• An overview of the RLS.

• Developing of KQ. A question (How does figurative language influence people?)

and a discussion about the AOKs (history, religion) and WOKs (language, faith, emotion),
that led to the main knowledge question: to what extent can emotions shape our

perception of knowledge?

• Claim #1: miscommunication due to emotions and language can lead to

disastrous events. The example of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US.

Counterclaim: miscommunication due to language can lead to the creation of a

controversial historical work, which's meaning could have been perceived positively

back in the days. The example of the creation of an impressive “the Moses”, due to

miscommunication.

• Claim #2: religious fanaticism and emotions can lead to misunderstanding of

words and awful events. The example of misunderstanding of the Bible, due to extreme

religious faith, that led to Crusades. Counterclaim: religious extremism led to

communities that flourish because the members provide and assist, due to faith and

emotional involvement. The example from E. Berman’s and L.R. Iannaccone’s working

paper on religious extremism.

• Conclusion: miscommunication can lead to disastrous events and emotions; faith

play big roles in affecting how we perceive information and understand the meaning

behind it. However, not always a misunderstanding of true meaning leads to disasters.

Even though nowadays people, with different views, due to more information, see some

things as negative outcomes, as it is linked to their emotions; back in the day, those

things did not have the same meaning, and therefore, those things were seen as neutral

or positive. Moreover, something that people perceive as a limitation, can bring

 prosperity. Thus, emotions do influence our perception of knowledge and encourage

action without reasoning.

6. Emotions, faith can affect our understanding of the true meaning and encourage action

without reasoning, like in the storming of the Capitol, where peoples’ emotions

distorted the perception of knowledge. Although, it is important to remember that

miscommunications can lead to a positive outcome, like the creation of artworks. Also,

the appendix to the RLS and the KQ: not every person was affected by their emotions –

but they still followed everyone else. So, another KQ can be drawn out: how does the

“herd mentality” affect one's perception of knowledge?