ROOTS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: THE ENLIGHTENMENT

Abstract

Despite the rapid development of research on emotional intelligence, its historical roots remain poorly understood. Enlightenment thinkers, seeking to unify reason and feeling, laid important philosophical foundations that today can be seen as early forms of the concept of emotional intelligence. Scholars of that era emphasised the importance of emotions not only as a source of morality, but also as a tool for personal development and social interaction. Recognising, managing, using and understanding emotions – these key aspects of modern emotional intelligence have deep historical roots dating back to Enlightenment thinkers. Studying their views not only allows us to better understand the nature of emotional intelligence, but also broadens the horizons of humanistic knowledge by linking psychology with philosophy, ethics, and history.