Kinda late to the discussion here, but there are two relevant concepts that are laid out particularly well in Diane Duane's book Spock's World. I'm not sure if you've read her book or not, but it really helped me get a handle on the Vulcans and emotion.
The first concept is arie'mnu. To quote Amanda, "The concept keeps getting translated as 'lack of emotion,' or 'suppression of emotion,' which is a little better...but not much. A more accurate translation would be 'passion's mastery.' The word itself acknowledges that Vulcans do too have emotions, but are managing them rather than being managed by them."
The second is cthia. To quote Amanda again, "It's the modern Vulcan word which we translate as 'logic.' But what it more correctly means is 'reality-truth.' The truth about the universe, the way things really are, rather than the way we would like them to be. It embraces the physical and inner realities both at once, in all their changes. The concept says that if we do not tell the universe the truth about itself, if we don't treat it and the people in it as what they are - real, and precious - it will turn against us, and none of our affairs will prosper. [...] What Sarek is saying is that if we don't handle this matter with the utmost respect for the truth, for what is really needed by everyone involved, it will end in disaster."
There's quite a bit more in the book about Surak's teachings, but Sarek and Spock both point out that the philosophy affects some Vulcans more deeply than others. I see Kolinahr as a very extreme interpretation of that philosophy.
This is such an interesting topic, and I wish I had more time to read everyone's responses and reply more thoroughly, but I have to run. Back later, for sure!
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Date: 2009-05-30 11:34 pm (UTC)The first concept is arie'mnu. To quote Amanda, "The concept keeps getting translated as 'lack of emotion,' or 'suppression of emotion,' which is a little better...but not much. A more accurate translation would be 'passion's mastery.' The word itself acknowledges that Vulcans do too have emotions, but are managing them rather than being managed by them."
The second is cthia. To quote Amanda again, "It's the modern Vulcan word which we translate as 'logic.' But what it more correctly means is 'reality-truth.' The truth about the universe, the way things really are, rather than the way we would like them to be. It embraces the physical and inner realities both at once, in all their changes. The concept says that if we do not tell the universe the truth about itself, if we don't treat it and the people in it as what they are - real, and precious - it will turn against us, and none of our affairs will prosper. [...] What Sarek is saying is that if we don't handle this matter with the utmost respect for the truth, for what is really needed by everyone involved, it will end in disaster."
There's quite a bit more in the book about Surak's teachings, but Sarek and Spock both point out that the philosophy affects some Vulcans more deeply than others. I see Kolinahr as a very extreme interpretation of that philosophy.
This is such an interesting topic, and I wish I had more time to read everyone's responses and reply more thoroughly, but I have to run. Back later, for sure!