Discussion Does Anyone really know what emotions are ?

[MrCasella]

Can anyone actually define emotions logically and rationally ? And explain or know where emotions come from ?

 

[Forever Sleep]

No but, it makes evolutionary sense we have them. At least as animals. We tend to like things that keep us alive and fear or hate things that threaten us. Not always of course and modern humans have messed things up. It made sense to enjoy calorie and fat laden foods when food was scarce. It doesn't help us so much now.

But- emotional bonds are presumably why creatures couple, have children and, protect them. It's a good tactic for ensuring our genes survive.

As to how- something to do with the brain I guess. Various chemicals/ hormones- adrenalin, endorphines. Like everything else, I imagine we've evolved to work like this because it gave us superiority. No point in being able to run away if we don't fear a tiger to begin with.

 

[katara]

I assume someone who studies evolution might know the answer. I have always wondered about ppl who seem to not have any or are basically numb. I've felt that way at times, it's actually quite horrible.

 

[TBONTB]

Can anyone actually define emotions logically and rationally ? And explain or know where emotions come from ?

Emotions evolved to keep humans alive and bonded. We are afraid to avoid danger, we are angry to defend what's ours, love helps us protect our families and tribes

And a little snippet from the internet of all the parts

• Brain systems:
  • Amygdala = fast threat detection.
  • Prefrontal cortex = interprets and regulates.
  • Insula = awareness of bodily feelings ("gut instinct").
  • Neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine) shape mood

 

[MrCasella]

No but, it makes evolutionary sense we have them. At least as animals. We tend to like things that keep us alive and fear or hate things that threaten us. Not always of course and modern humans have messed things up. It made sense to enjoy calorie and fat laden foods when food was scarce. It doesn't help us so much now.

But- emotional bonds are presumably why creatures couple, have children and, protect them. It's a good tactic for ensuring our genes survive.

As to how- something to do with the brain I guess. Various chemicals/ hormones- adrenalin, endorphines. Like everything else, I imagine we've evolved to work like this because it gave us superiority. No point in being able to run away if we don't fear a tiger to begin with.

Can you provide proof of evolution ?

Emotions evolved to keep humans alive and bonded. We are afraid to avoid danger, we are angry to defend what's ours, love helps us protect our families and tribes

And a little snippet from the internet of all the parts

• Brain systems:
  • Amygdala = fast threat detection.
  • Prefrontal cortex = interprets and regulates.
  • Insula = awareness of bodily feelings ("gut instinct").
  • Neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine) shape mood

How do you and others who keep saying this know with absolute certainty that humans would die without emotions ?

I assume someone who studies evolution might know the answer. I have always wondered about ppl who seem to not have any or are basically numb. I've felt that way at times, it's actually quite horrible.

Dead people ?

 

[Hollowman]

Can you provide proof of evolution ?

How do you and others who keep saying this know with absolute certainty that humans would die without emotions ?

Dead people ?

Dead inside. I've been almost completely emotionally numb for years. It's hell.

 

[Forever Sleep]

Can you provide proof of evolution ?

Charles Darwin did- in his study of Galapagos Finches.

Can I prove emotions evolved? No. Maybe other scientists have studied them though. I'm not that well read.

 

[MrCasella]

Charles Darwin did- in his study of Galapagos Finches.

Can I prove emotions evolved? No. Maybe other scientists have studied them though. I'm not that well read.

How does his observations on Finches prove that we have ape like ancestors ?

Dead inside. I've been almost completely emotionally numb for years. It's hell.

I wish I was a robot.

 

[Forever Sleep]

How does his observations on Finches prove that we have ape like ancestors ?

I wish I was a robot.

Whether we descend from apes or not, we are clearly animals- mammals. Animals exhibit emotions frequently.

His finch observations merely showed the dynamics whereby over millions of years, organisms adapt to survive better in their surroundings. Why wouldn't our brain functions adapt just the same way our physical bodies did? Eg. We lost our tails and began to walk on two legs.

It's hard to imagine but, perhaps our very distant ancestors didn't have the range of emotions we have now. Who knows?

Animals can clearly exhibit aggression, joy, greed, jealousy, sympathy, grief, love even. Our reasoning and awareness developments are (debatably) more advanced but, how are we so different to animals in our raw emotions?

 

[Ilovemycats]

It's quite philosophical isn't it? There are many takes on such question, so would one say that emotions are all in our brain. Like if you fall inlove a certain part of your brain is more active around when you're around that specific person instead other people. It's true, but it certainly doesn't feel that way.

You could say that emotions are naturally determined. But emotions are throughout the culture and history seen differently, so have some cultures not sad about death and someone dying. Or think about the Inuit that don't have a word for anger. So it's also some way also quite cultural.

If you believe in a soul then you can also find your explanation there, so did Plato say that emotions are the result of your soul interacting with the outside world, and thus reflect the soul's harmony or disharmony.

It's difficult to have a clear answer for what emotions are, I think myself that the complexity of it, is also a part of what makes us human. Brains are complex which makes humans also complex.

 

[RoseGirl]

evolution is a pretty well understood and mapped out scientific field. it's doesn't really need to be proven anymore since it's like basically quintessential to many other fields like mapping out species or managing microbes or selective breeding.
it's like saying the world is flat to a sailor. the fact that it's round is so essential to navigation that it's ridiculous to ask them to provide proof.

 

[einsam]

Can you provide proof of evolution ?

Evolution is an inevitable consequence when you have:

1. variation of traits in a population,
2. these traits are heritable, and
3. the traits cause variation in reproductive success.

While are there are plenty of demonstrations of evolution (a poster above mention Darwin's Galapagos finches) it is not really necessary to demonstrate. To give an analogy: if water is continually added (and none removed) to a bucket, it will eventually overflow. We know this without having to observe it. Similarly, if a given heritable trait causes an organism to reproduce more successfully than other members of its population without this trait, then this trait will become more common in the population with each successive generation. It cannot be any other way.