“Rational argument can be conducted with some prospect of success only so long as the emotionality of a given situation does not exceed a certain critical degree. If the affective temperature rises above this level, the possibility of reason’s having any effect ceases and its place is taken by slogans and chimerical wish fantasies. That is to say, a sort of collective possession results which rapidly develops into a psychic epidemic.”

Possessing attributes such as reason based on nature’s law, an understanding of material particles’ relationships based on physics, logic based on tangible science, and a discerning penetration into an astute circumspection is within an actionable realm of rational argument. Emotionalism is an undue indulgence tending to regard things through irrational feelings and perceptions. Rational argument would include topics such as inalienable rights, liberty and naturally occurring events; emotionalism can only react (not act) to an ardor for such. Emotionalism exists with no depth of understanding of such rationale while, relying solely on a fixation (socialism, by example is an emotional malady / fixation based on misdirection, off topic, and distorted intangibles). The quote is exceptionally right on. Once again by example; socialism and the current occupying statist theocracy infesting this land- being an emotional malady / fixation is taken by slogans and chimerical wish fantasies (a sort of collective possession result - a developing psychotic epidemic).