Here's a brain burner, or so I like to think...?

Question

Humans are emotion. We drown in it. It dictates everything we do, how we react at any moment. So maybe the next step in evolution is to attain a pure emotional state. What do you think about that? If you think along those lines, how do you suppose we do this? How do you envision evolution? And if you mock me, then answer this, why would you think evolution has stopped in the human species?

Answer 1

The biggest problem in answering your question(s) is that one is forced to tackle an area (the brain) that is not understood very well; Never-the-less I will take a stab at it. A secondary problem is that we are not all ruled by our emotions (although we may all have them), some of us are ruled by our intelect.

First I will have to rewrite the question , so I can concentrate on the gist, of the question. The question will now read:

What is the "higher" form of thought; emotion or reasoning ?

By "higher" I am referring to the part of thought, that is most probably going to aid humans in surviving the upcoming devastation. For it will be this characteristic that will thrive among the survivors; and thus prove itself the most advantageous to human life.

Now, how do we determine what will survive, before it even happens: short of having a working crystal ball ?

I would be willing to gamble that the winners will be those that have been able to see what is headed their way and take the necessary steps to prepare. (Hey, it helped Noah)

There will probably be another smaller group of survivors, who were blind to "the future", but will be ruthless enough, to try to take from those who have prepared. Unfortunately for them, they will have an uphill battle.

So the new question becomes, Who is preparing for the devastation ?

I have found two groups, that are aware and are preparing for "the future". The first group is the one who feel things clearly with their heart (emotion). The second group is the one who see things clearly with their intelect (reasoning). It does not seem to matter what you use, so as long as it is strong enough to accurately foresee the future and cause you to act. How do I know "the future" ? I don't . But I have finaly got to the point, where my understanding of the Universe, coincides with the teachings of Christs, (quite possibly a crystal ball): That to me tells me I am most likely, on the right path.

So what is the higher form of thought? Not one or the other, but more of each is better. This seems to be the logical answer for me: I hope you feel it to be true too.

Answer 2

It's kind of sad that you think this topic is a "Brain Burner".

The way in which emotions plays such a vital role in all things, consider for a moment how horrendous things are in the world right now.... and you can actually perceive humans in a PURE emotional state?

I don't and can't think along those lines, so I'm not going to waste any grey matter on it!

How I envision "evolution" (the term evolution very loosely used, and answering your last question as well)... Is that human beings are still evolving, not physically (in terms of outward appearance) but internally, specifically the mind in how it works and functions.

The human race is constantly and consistently being mutated by all the drugs and chemicals which is part of life now. Both positive and negative. Being exposed to them IS changing us. For the most part in a negative manner.

That, in and of itself will see our demise, probably not too far off in the near future as a species.

Answer 3

Humans are emotion, but if we drown in it, maybe it's because we haven't begun to understand ourselves as people in a physical sense. How we react to any situations depends on each individual and their confidence in themselves. Evolution is the beginning of how man came to be and we therefore learn from that. I'm sure that studies are still ongoing, do you ever think that in another lifetime there might be questions of how we all existed? So for now our emotional state should put us all where we want to be, people learning from other people.

Answer 4

The main motor of our adaptation resides in our intelligence and consciousness (not emotion). How can we improve both? We do it by enlarging our realm of experiences. I see only one way to do that now. It would be to conquer another, larger, environment: SPACE.

To go to space (as a civilization) we would need a level of organization and knowledge that are quite challenging and does not exist now. The structure (or aims) of our economy would also need to change drastically (the failure of the present American’s space project is a good example). The resources needed for such a project is at a world level. To achieve such a task may imply a level of peace and cooperation among nations difficult to imagine at the present.

It is almost inevitable in such a civilization that our "social behaviors" would evolve into something completely different.

From the point of view of conscience, going to space would have, I believe, a very strong psychological impact. This is not theoretical. We already have experience of that. Some astronauts of the Apollo project, for instance, have described (and lived after) their experiment as a Spiritual quest. I remember, in particular, long time ago, one French astronaut (I think it was Jean Lou Chretien) describing his impression leaving in MIR for a while: "At first you look at Earth and look at your own country. Then gradually you look at the whole Earth as your home".

Going to space may be our next evolutionary move. In this sense, it may also be our only chance to survive here on Earth.

Answer 5

I don't exactly know what you mean by pure emotional state, but I assume it is a state in which our emotions don't hold so much power over us, or our emotions never fluctuate.
If you wish to battle this now(without waiting for evolution), a couple thousand years ago, Seneca and other Stoic philosophers in Athens saw exactly what you see and decided that emotions should be regulated or controlled by reason. They thought that you could not change your circumstances but only your response to them, and to be autonomous was to exercise control over your emotions through reason.

Answer 6

I can best address your question perhaps using the emotive psychologists themselves, but chiefly those notions from Alfred Adler, a former student if memory serves, of Carl Jung. Adler felt the natural and most constructive way for humans to "operate" was to emote or "feel" first... taking full "ownership" of the emotion(s) "happening" inside us from one "gestalt" to the next. In this, he believed that recognition and acceptance of those feelings was primary to keeping one's balance over time: that validation came only when there could be no "smoke screens" that kept us from revealing the true emotions that were there.

He was then quick to point out that the next VITAL step in our stability - defined as the absence deteriorating or inflating behaviors - was that of thought, or "thinking' about those feelings and their relative validity, desirability, reliability. In short, "acceptance" did not necessarily equate with fair-mindedness or equability. Instance can easily be shown where perceptions and worldviews reek havoc in a person's life because of a lack of required reflection... where impulsiveness had pretty much "taken over." There were steps that were to be followed in this second stage, but I've forgotten them. But that brings to the the last "emboldened" step of "authentic action."
Supposedly, once sufficient reflexive and redacting measures when taken in the feeling being explored, then one could intuitively plan an adequate or optimal response which they could then confidently execute in the human environment. The whole idea was that of staying genuine and balanced in how one approached one's feelings without becoming a "be-atche" to one's emotional states... you supposedly learned to deal with them rather them "deal with you." So the stages in any random time period were 1) feel, 2) think, & 3) act... the last stage is when you received validation or vindication for your efforts re: the honest appraisal of your emotions.

There is more, but that is about all I can offer now in how man might come to better understand his/her emotions. Suffice to say that we are presently nowadays becoming largely desensitized to things with which we would have normally been more connected. Moreover we are "somatically numb" in today's society... so much is repressed that it is a wonder there are not more school shootings like the one experienced at Columbine High School, CO. At any rate we would do well to see ourselves as evolving "emotionally" as well as physically and mentally... just as you were quick to point out in your "details."

I see this as a very important question and it was thoughtful of you to have posed it. Thank-you.

Answer 7

you're reasoning is flawed from the start; humans are not merely emotions. we are also animals constricted by our biology, what makes us different is our ability for self-regard, seeing our separateness from nature and others around us. i don't even think about evolutuion anymore because i'm so stuck on the belief that the earth itself is a living organism with an immune system and is rejecting us.

Answer 8

I agree with your assessment except I think all emotions have a physical accompaniment and evolution is solely based on enironment

Answer 9

Mankind will evolve when emotion is put on the back burner, and logic takes center stage.

Answer 10

Do you think we will become 'another species'?

Could it be that we might remain human and 'mutate' into a better human?