Question

Is it correct to say that reason is empty? That it only presents data, and what really determines things is the will—the soul? For example, if I place a glass of water before someone who hasn’t drunk for several days and is about to die, reason could only tell him: if you drink, you will continue living (because the water will provide substances that you need), but everything depends on the will, and if he doesn’t want to live he won’t drink.
Or is that not so, and reason is something substantial—the rational faculty determines what is correct from a rational standpoint, and there is also another emotional system… And regarding the example above, reason would also take another step [and not only say that water will cause him to keep living] but would say that from a rational standpoint living is good… except that there is also another system of emotions, which also has a say [and a person can feel that life has no meaning for him].