Would we be better of without EMOTIONS?

[Hurricane]

I don't think that charity and selflessness are irrational at all. That which benefits society benefits our inner circle (our family and ourselves), because humans are so social (social co-operation is the reason why our squishy, clawless, furless species has survived for as long as it has). If society's resources are balanced and no one is in want, it means that people aren't as likely to murder us and our families in order to obtain the resources that they and their families need to survive (and our families have our dna inside of them, so we'd want to keep them around; the propagation of our genetic material is basically every living thing's life purpose). You don't need emotions to come to that conclusion.

I agree that's true to a certain extent. But at the same time, there are people out there who give, truly selflessly, even though there would have been no consequence for not acting. There's no rational reason to give up a profitable medical practice to move to Africa and treat people suffering from AIDs or go halfway across the world to build houses for Habitat for Humanity.
A few more people dying of AIDs or going homeless doesn't really effect them physically (if anything, it would theoretically benefit because there'd be less competition for resources), they do it because they think it's the right thing to do or the suffering of others hits them on an emotional level.

[Nietzsche]

Not really. In some aspects yes, but, without suffering we'd not seek out happiness. Without emotions, we'd not be able to feel life events to make us ponder if life is better off without emotions. Read some Arthur Schopenhauer.

[soundofmusic]

I only have one thing to say

[cacian]

What? Emotions? I read that Emoticons for a minute.
Emotions they are the foundation of everything humans and alive without them we would be mere machines sorry.
My emotion is what makes a human and I like being a human.

[Rainyhawaii]

Actually, emotions are not what make humans humans. What makes a us humans are that we have opposing thumbs and logical thought. Therefore shouldn't you be arguing that if we only had logical thought you'd be more human? I guess the counter argument could be that: if you had more opposing thumbs would that make you more human as well? But it's all just an opinion at this point. Frankly I see the 'if we didn't have emotions then we wouldn't be humans' response as and emotional response, not a logical one. Animals have emotions, instincts, and the ability/will to keep their species alive (procreation). What separates us from animals? Logical thought. All that being said, I'm now going to contradict it. If we didn't have any emotions we couldn't appreciate any of the beauties of the world; that includes art, music, literature, majestic landscapes, and emotions themselves. This question eventually boils down to: Wouldn't it be better to live without darkness and/or light? Well, the simple answer is that, it wouldn't matter; because if it were so, we wouldn't know the difference.

[Honey Miel]

Your post is flawless

[Honey Miel]

Well for me, I don't need joy. Comfort is what I strive for. When I'm comfortable (without any joy) I have plenty enough Just talking about myself though.

[Honey Miel]

Emotion: I feel 2+2 = 5

Rationality= 2+2 = 4



Primal Emotions are instinctive. Others can be consciously evoked eg. compassion.



Morality based on pure emotions is not good idea. Morality kept in check by rationality is best bet.



Really? Is it that simple?



Really?

So if I give you an injection that knocks your ability to feel anything.
Would you still murder?

I think the answer is probably not. Since without envy, greed, ego, its harder to find reasons to kills people. I don't say it would never happen, just that it would happen less in a rational world.

[Honey Miel]

Without emotions can there be 'better'?

Doesn't the concept of 'better' have an emotional aspect to it?

I'd question whether the species would survive without fear.

LOL very good, you got me there.

[Honey Miel]

I'm one of the rare people that lives with very few emotions. I've never actually met somebody with so few emotions as me. So even not being totally devoid of emotions, I rarely feel any. I'm possibly a good study case on life without emotions. So here is a list of some facts of my life compared with emotional beings.

1- My life is indeed way simpler than my friends, family, and coworker. Mainly in the decision making field, its seem way easier for me to make decisions and to act according to them. (most people I've seen in my life have a very hard time to keep their wich and decisions which is and interestingly strange behavior to me)
2- I'm super predictable, so people around me tend to be secured by that predictability, but I admit people around me get bored pretty fast cause I'm so predictable.
3- From the outside of my life people tend to tell me I must have a pretty boring life. But since I don't feel boredom.... well ... how could I know?!?

About if the world would be easier without emotions the answer is beyond any doubt: Yes
About if the world would be better without emotions .... well ... depends if you like predictability. If you love to be surprised and if you love change... then emotions is better. If you like predictability, security, and repetitiveness, then a world without emotions would be better.

And as food for thought: Without emotions there is no envy, and no desire for power and control (over money and people) = food and resources shared evenly in the world = No Famine. Does some boredom traded for no famine in the hole word wouldn't be worth it? Good luck answering that one LOL

[North Star]

I'm one of the rare people that lives with very few emotions. I've never actually met somebody with so few emotions as me. So even not being totally devoid of emotions, I rarely feel any. I'm possibly a good study case on life without emotions. So here is a list of some facts of my life compared with emotional beings.

1- My life is indeed way simpler than my friends, family, and coworker. Mainly in the decision making field, its seem way easier for me to make decisions and to act according to them. (most people I've seen in my life have a very hard time to keep their wich and decisions which is and interestingly strange behavior to me)
2- I'm super predictable, so people around me tend to be secured by that predictability, but I admit people around me get bored pretty fast cause I'm so predictable.
3- From the outside of my life people tend to tell me I must have a pretty boring life. But since I don't feel boredom.... well ... how could I know?!?

About if the world would be easier without emotions the answer is beyond any doubt: Yes
About if the world would be better without emotions .... well ... depends if you like predictability. If you love to be surprised and if you love change... then emotions is better. If you like predictability, security, and repetitiveness, then a world without emotions would be better.

And as food for thought: Without emotions there is no envy, and no desire for power and control (over money and people) = food and resources shared evenly in the world = No Famine. Does some boredom traded for no famine in the hole word wouldn't be worth it? Good luck answering that one LOL

If there were no emotions, we'd never have the motivation to get up and gather or hunt for food, let alone discover science, create art, or help anyone. So your solution to famine is about as good as a nuclear war would be..

[Tyrion Cheddar]

Not having emotions? I'm not sure how I feel about that. Get it? AH HA HA HA!! <thud>