There is really isn't a scientific explanation for any of these things.
2006-12-21 02:51:59 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It amazes me how a simple question brings out hatred and name calling in Atheists.
So, emotions are nothing more than chemical reactions? So why wouldn't we simply find a way to stop these reactions when so many can cause negative human behavior?
2006-12-21 03:03:34 · update #1
To give mechanical answers for the things that truly make life important is just sad and limiting.
2006-12-21 03:29:54 · update #2
Great question!
I have always believed that emotions are a gift from God!!
2006-12-21 03:10:26 · answer #1 · answered by June smiles 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Actually, there's very good scientific explanation for some of those. Love is biologically valuable because our species and others like us have to care for children for a very long time. This works better if there are multiple entities caring/providing for the same child. A father is better able to pass on his gene's to a human-child (who must learn many things before survival), if that child is "loved" by a family....
But, that is just an ad hoc reason. Don't forget, romantic love (what you mean by falling in love) wasn't invented until the middle ages, as an extension of a devotion to royalty (love for the queen).
The love for puppy dogs is a socially conditioned one. I personally hate dogs, because I'm allergic to them and was terrorized by one when I was young. So I learned something different than what a typical U.S.'er does. If you go to a random country that doesn't have dogs, people don't inherently love them.
Music, I'm not sure, but I know that again, social conditioning has a lot to do with it, because the music of various cultures is radically different--you would probably hate what many countries call music.
2006-12-21 03:00:02 · answer #2 · answered by Qwyrx 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There isn't a scientific expanation for any of these things?
Really?????? wow! I guess the complete psycology and neurology works I bought for my husband for xmas then was a complete waste of time.
And how can you not expect the reactions you got when posting such an offensive anti atheist question which is loaded with prejudice?
And BTW we ARE able to stop or control some of these chemical reactions wich create the less desirable emotions and reactions. Some are called anti depressants, some are called beta blockers and some control hormonal fluctuations which can help with anger and hate.
Are you for real?
2006-12-21 03:13:09 · answer #3 · answered by opalina 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a scientific explanation for dogs and other animals: it's called evolution.
Music is a form of entertainment, and it has nothing to do with religion unless you are an ancient Pagan and believe a God or a Muse invented it.
As for falling in love, this also doesn't have anything to do with religion in general. Some people believe in fate, but that often isn't part of any dogma. Also, reincarnation could factor in, but that would only mean you love the same person in each life and it doesn't explain why. I suppose religion could also factor into this if you are Pagan Re-constructionist and believe that love Gods determine with whom you fall in love.
2006-12-21 02:57:59 · answer #4 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think there are scientific reasons, although I can't cite any particular studies right off the top of my head.
Love- humans evolved from other social specie of animals. Mating for life does give certain animals an advantage in raising and caring for their young.
Music- humans evolved from other social specie of animals. Communication is important to social animals, including auditory communication. Music is a form of auditory communication. Other animals have mating songs and calls, right?
Puppies- All young mammals have certain characteristics which trigger our parenting instincts. Large eyes, for example. So we love puppies because our brains are tricked into being parental. And it keeps going because humans and dogs have a symbiotic relationship (we feed them, they protect us.)
At least as far as the puppy dog question, you might try reading the "neoteny" and "Cuteness" entries in Wikipedia
2006-12-21 03:07:36 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. Bad Day 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Love: we evolved to love because it is extremely helpful in preserving our species. humans loving each other take care of each other where otherwise they might fall prey to some illness injury or other misfortune. thats not too hard to see is it?
Music: if you examine the universe on a nano scale you'll learn that it is comprised of nothing more than oscillations, vibrations, frequencies. these pervade our entire universe. sound is nothing but frequencies. when we hear them we are instantly in touch with the primal stuff of the universe. thats a little harder to see but with a little education you'll get it.
Puppy Dogs? geesh, again we have evolved to love dogs because they were an asset to our survival as a species. with dogs around other predators stayed away from us. humans and dogs have had this symbotic relationship for hundreds of thousands of years.
That pretty much explains it. I am an atheist. Thanks for the opportunity to educate you.
2006-12-21 03:03:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes there is. It's a neurochemical reaction.
Love is a conscious interpretation of the neurochemical cost-benefit analysis of the instincts towards empathy and altruism.
Reaction to music is primarily based on familiarity combined with tonal neurological effects (ie: we 'like' certain sounds because they produce neurological consequences that enhance or detract various other areas of the brain).
Reaction to puppies is primarily because we have evolved a response to small forms with large eyes and large heads -- like, babies, for example. It's much better for a baby if the mother takes care of it, so evolution selected for mothers who were attracted or drawn to such features.
So, try harder next time? I'd suggest a brief study of neuropsychology before next time though.
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Yes, emotions are purely neurochemical reactions, and we ARE in fact attempting to find pharmaceutical treatments/cures for the ones that can become destructive. Paxil, Zoloft, Xanax, Wellbutrin ring a bell?
Would you like to see me go two weeks without my daily dose of Wellbutrin XL 300mg / day ? I assure you, it'd be a rather bloody scene -- hopefully my own, at least then I wouldn't have guilt to add to the depression. All because I have a genetic defect that causes my neurons to uptake serotonin too quickly, leading to a lack of proper serotonin balance in the synapses.
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If the fact love has a purely neurochemical reaction takes away from your ability to enjoy the feeling of love, then the problem isn't love being a purely neurochemical reaction, it's that you're looking for magic, not science.
Does it detract from the beauty of a sunrise that I know the precise mathematical relationships in the mass of the sun and earth, their revolutional qualities, their rotational qualities, the process by which the sun generates light, etc...? In fact, I find I appreciate the splendor of a sunrise all the more because I am in utter awe of both the visual stimulus (watching the sun rise) and of all the things that have to happen for me to see that sun rise.
Why, then, should knowing why love happens make it any less beautiful that it does happen?
2006-12-21 02:57:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Only good things happen in life.These are the things we want to keep right. We always only want to keep the good things right?
Ok, not serious. Things do happen in life. But as we grow and mature, we accept it. We start to see things very differently from say a teenager.This is becos we have experience. Only experience is the true teacher of life.
When bad things happen, we got to just let it pass.
If we are going to scream about it, its just a waste of energy. WE have to know what's REAL and what's unreal. I come to a point I tell myself, life is fair because God is fair and just. But then again because that's life.
Understand life. It helps everyone.
2006-12-21 06:57:23 · answer #8 · answered by Amy R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There isn't a non-scientific explanation for them. Have you read the scientific literature on them, or did you just assume that there isn't any? There are plenty of people studying each of these things, and our understanding of them is progressing rapidly, thanks to science.
Rather than attack what you do not understand, I suggest you make at least a little effort at understanding. It was a mistake for you to post this question.
2006-12-21 02:57:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
All humans have emotions, not just those who believe in supernatural beings. Many studies have been done to determine what parts of the human brain come into play when a person feels love, sexual attraction, serenity (like when listening to beautiful music), and fondness for animals.
2006-12-21 02:57:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Actually, neuroscientists *do* have explanations for these things. They may not be completely hammered out (yet), but they're more solid explanations than "because God made us that way". See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/love/
http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/index.html?quid=769
As for puppy dogs, it's pretty clear to me that they provide a sort of unconditional love and companionship that humans naturally seek out because it makes them feel good.
2006-12-21 03:32:45 · answer #11 · answered by PollyMagoo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋