Reason–Emotion Integration in the Context of Artificial Intelligence: The Implications of Aristotle’s Conception of Happiness for Youth Moral Education

Abstract

With rapid advances in AI, modern education faces the challenge of ensuring independent thinking isn’t overshadowed by AI’s rational logic. As AI shapes learning and interactions, students may show less emotional expression, moral concern, and well-being. Drawing on Aristotle’s eudaimonia, this study explores integrating rationality and emotion in the AI context for youth moral education. Aristotle saw rationality as key but valued emotion’s role, seeing practical wisdom as leading to virtue and happiness. Education should foster independent thought beyond instrumental rationality by cultivating emotional experience and moral sensitivity, balancing reason and emotion. This study examines AI’s dual impact, potentially eroding rationality and blunting emotional engagement, through Aristotle’s rational-emotional unity. It proposes a moral education model rooted in practical wisdom to revitalize youth virtue education in the AI age.