Corruption of Reason?

How do you explain people's actions without emotions? For example, if asked why I waited until the last minute to do my english reading and write my blog, I could explain to you that I had a lot on my mind, and that I couln't focus, or possibly that I was even nervous to actually write my blog, and that was what kept me from writing it. Therefore, my actions are justified; there is some reason that I didn't write my blog until the last minute. However, if I am talking to a person who doesn't understand these conflicting emotions- and has no words in their language to describe them - I would be left to say something more like this: 'I decided not to read my english assignment or do my blog until right before it was due, despite any possible consequences, because it seemed more appropriate to sit and think instead.' That sounds much more stupid and ridiculous, right?

After hearing stories, even more ridiculous than that of me not doing my blog, Gulliver's 'master,' decided that man's reasoning capacity must either be corrupted, or false - simply a mock reasoning ability.

"But, when a creature pretending to reason could be capable of such enormities, he dreaded lest the corruption of that faculty might be worse than brutality itself. He seemed therefore confident, that, instead of reason we were only possessed of some quality fitted to increase our natural vices; as the reflection from a stream returns the image of an ill-shapen body, not only larger but more disstorted." (Gulliver's Travels 453)

But are man's actions, such as those described by Gulliver, really 'irrational' and ridiculous? Isn't there another option? Possibly reason isn't simply corrupted by emotions, but rather, could emotions be said to rightly play a role in the reasoning process. I do acknowledge that it is corruption of reason to be governed completely by emotions, but couldn't it be corrruption to be ruled completely by logistics as well? Wouldn't logistics alone defy humanity - as we see in the emotionless and dull life of the Houyhnhnms? The distinctness of humanity is a product of moderation between logic and emotions.

My Comment on Meghan's Post: (It wouldn't let me post it)
I agree Meghan, Swift's discussion on the lawyers was very interesting. My favorite part was when the houyhnhnm was perplexed as to why such men "were not rather encouraged to be instructors of others in wisdom and knowledge" to which Gulliver replies that such men "were ususally the most ignorant and stupid generation among us." The lawyers ignorance does not lie in the cause of their profession, or even from their defence of falsehood, but when the futility of an argument takes precedence over everything else - including the cause of justice - now that is when lawyers become the "most ignorant and stupid generation."

"In pleading they studiously avoid entering into the merits of the cause, butare loud, violent, and tedious in dwelling upon all circumstances which are not to the purpose." (Swift 454)