What Good Are Emotions?

[NotSoRighteousRob]

This is probably one of my favorite topics, and I can't think of a better forum to discuss it.

So besides art, what can we really attribute to our emotions. I know many people would say without emotions we wouldn't be compelled to accomplish the things we have. But I think that regardless of our emotions, when we saw something that needed to be done, it would get done, if we found a way to make something better, we would make it better.

Now granted, it would probably slow down our technological development drastically. But at the same time our emotions have already set us back 1000 years. Anyone remember the dark ages? You can attribute a total lack of logic to what transpired during those times.

So let's hear what everyone thinks. Who thinks emotions are what are holding us back? Who thinks it is emotions that cause all the war, all the strife, and most of the negative things that plague our species.

[Zygomorphic]

I do not believe in an afterlife, so without the ability to experience positive emotions, everything about living would be so utterly insignificant to me.

If I don't have happiness to strive for and indulge in, I am lost.

I'm also at a point where I have mastery over my own emotions; I control my emotions, not the other way around, so I do not find it a curse to have emotions at all.

Logic can coexist with emotions and succeed. It just doesn't seem to in many.

[Highschool Pariah]

It's very simple really. Our exhistance is agreeable for either happiness or faith. Neither can survive without emotions.

[NotSoRighteousRob]

people are born with conditions that prevent them from having emotions, it's very rare but it has happened. It is possible to survive without them.

and that's great if your one of the few who aren't heavily influenced by emotions, but what about the rest of the suffering of the world that emotions cause. And I also don't believe in an afterlife, and even in the pursuit of happiness in this life what will it accomplish. We will all perish one day, so for our happiness is it ok to condemn others to suffer?

[seraphiel]

Hmm. I think if we had no emotions, yet still had the instinct to exist, everything would be efficient and to the point.

In fact I think we would be more high tech because we would get to the point without reservation, even if it means some of us would have to die. Plus there would be no crap like art or entertainment to get work done, we could always work and sleep and eat enough to maintain optimal efficiency for working.

I think we'd be like an ant colony but more intelligent.

[Arioche]

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

This is probably one of my favorite topics, and I can't think of a better forum to discuss it.

So besides art, what can we really attribute to our emotions. I know many people would say without emotions we wouldn't be compelled to accomplish the things we have. But I think that regardless of our emotions, when we saw something that needed to be done, it would get done, if we found a way to make something better, we would make it better.

Now granted, it would probably slow down our technological development drastically. But at the same time our emotions have already set us back 1000 years. Anyone remember the dark ages? You can attribute a total lack of logic to what transpired during those times.

So let's hear what everyone thinks. Who thinks emotions are what are holding us back? Who thinks it is emotions that cause all the war, all the strife, and most of the negative things that plague our species.

While your claim that hate is attributed to emotions are true, hate does not equal negativity. Do you really believe that all war are caused because of hate? All genocides, destruction, etc? You seem to only be looking at one side of the coin, completely disregarding the positive of emotions. Where does civil rights come from? Where does love? Personal ethics and morals?

War is not caused chiefly by hate, anger and other negative emotions, it is caused by want for profit. Same with many of murders, theft, etc. If the person did not have emotion, what will hold them back from want of profit? What hold us back from killing off millions of people to reduce the "hungry stomachs" to feed? If we want efficiency without any emotions involved, let us be like ant colonies. Let us advance beyond what our "emotional boundaries" will permit us. Who knows? We may all double our life expectancy with all the new technology, maybe we'll find a way to let all paint the most magnificent paintings in the world. But what's the point? Gathering no pleasure while we as a whole "succeed" we are meaningless.

[NotSoRighteousRob]

want of profit is just another way of saying greed, which is the worst of them all to me, and the only reason we need civil rights is because of hate causing people to not want to listen to one another.

There would probably still be the occasional war over natural reserves. But than again I think we would be smart enough to not over consume them they way we do now. and without greed to make a profit I don't see how it would be an issue to come by these natural resources

life is already meaningless in a sense. self satisfaction doesn't help anyone but yourself

[Grey]

Greed doesn't necessarily fuel what you're suggesting - survival of the fittest. Many species of animals will take 'more than they need' to prove their dominance, or to eliminate the threat of other competition. I believe that emotions both benefit and harm the human race, and it's to the tune of a tide; flowing in and out, both states are effectual and, at this point, necessary for our survival. If humans were all to suddenly lose their emotions, it would certainly be catastrophic on the species, especially considering that all extreme changes are.

[seraphiel]

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

want of profit is just another way of saying greed, which is the worst of them all to me, and the only reason we need civil rights is because of hate causing people to not want to listen to one another.

There would probably still be the occasional war over natural reserves. But than again I think we would be smart enough to not over consume them they way we do now. and without greed to make a profit I don't see how it would be an issue to come by these natural resources

life is already meaningless in a sense. self satisfaction doesn't help anyone but yourself

Not to mention we'd be capable of eating our own kind or things like that. Everyone contributes, even if it is by being food (or energy)

[Arioche]

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

want of profit is just another way of saying greed, which is the worst of them all to me, and the only reason we need civil rights is because of hate causing people to not want to listen to one another.

There would probably still be the occasional war over natural reserves. But than again I think we would be smart enough to not over consume them they way we do now. and without greed to make a profit I don't see how it would be an issue to come by these natural resources

life is already meaningless in a sense. self satisfaction doesn't help anyone but yourself

Greed is an emotion now? That's a new idea to me. Greed, is a desire for more. It's a motivation. If you claim that greed is an emotion, I will claim any sort of motivation, including the desire to live, to be an emotion. Good bye ant colony.

Also, if we go along with your idea, life, truly is meaningless. Then why don't we all become logical and kill ourselves? Why work and be efficient as you can be when there is no meaning behind it? It's illogical, why don't we all kill ourselves now? There is only meaning behind it because our emotions allow us personal, subjective view instead of a completely logical one. There is no universal meaning of life, but our emotions and independent value systems allows us to achieve our own personal goal. Without it, we'll be a stand alone machine that is working, working, working, and surviving, for no reason what so ever.