(Educated) ATHEISTS only please?... (Serious question, not to be taken offensive.)?

Question

(I have heard this question asked, and haven't heard a response that answers it for me... So I decided to ask it my way.)

Human Emotions? I have been educated on the Theory of Evolution, and admit that there are some valid points. But I don't believe that these things accurately account for the full panopoly of human emotions and of human experience. What scientific process explains why humans experience guilt, embarrassment, humiliation, sorrow, shame, joy, love? I know that science points to altruism (and natural chemical imbalances) as being evolutionarily beneficial, and although I could possibly buy that, I can't buy that that accounts for the human emotions we see and experience every day. Relatedly...?

Yes, I am a Christian.. But before you jump down my throat, understand.. I am seeking knowledge of what your beliefs say.. Not judging you, so please don't judge me! Thanks...

Southpaw, please elaborate?

Answer 1

It is hard for me to explain this in a true scientific analogy or vernacular, but I'll try to explain or at least describe to the best of my understanding and recollection.

I think part of it has to do with our chemical makeup but I also think it has alot to do with our own personal upbringing and what has been passed down to us in terms of what is acceptable to our family, friends, and our culture and society.

Chemically, we have something called a peptide formed and released by every emotion we experience. These peptides are received by receptors. These receptors cause a biological effect and over the millions of years have been conditioned to cause us to have an emotional effect.

For example, a primal instinct and emotion is fear. Over the course of thousands of years, these "fear" neural-peptides were released when we were confronted with danger like being pursued by a predator, whether animal or other human. When we gained the knowledge to defend ourself with no immediate danger of loss of life, it became more of a nervousness than a "fight or flight" self preservation reaction.

Over the years this emotion was passed down to offspring whether by genes or simple observation (you'd be surprised what children pick up from their parents). Also, culture and our society has a profound effect on our behavior and what emotions, neural-peptide release, they will cause.

Also, alot of behavior will release the same kind of peptide, but it will be explained differently because of our own perception of what is causing that feeling and reaction. For instance, back to the fear analogy. We may have fear when we do something wrong and we anticipate the punishment our dad was going to give us (I was raised when spanking with the belt buckle was still ok), and when we fear, or are "nervous" about being evaluated for a raise. They are both similar reactions producing the same peptide, but both are perceived differently because the circumstances are very dissimilar, so we describe each differently.

So, alot of emotions are the same, but the circumstances in which we experience them are different, therefore producing a perception that they are different emotion.

I guess you could also say that is why they say eating chocolate is similar to having sex (and I apologize for using this analogy if you are too young to have had a sexual experience). It is because chocolate releases the same chemicals and peptides as it does when having sex.

One last point. I am not necessarily an atheist although most people would probably classify me as that. I am more an agnostic. Which dictionary.com defines as : 1.a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.

I hope I have made an at least half descent argument or explanation....lol.

~jaz~

Answer 2

In case you haven't noticed, animals also experience emotions, these are built on instincts + experience, a dog isn't going to be sad when you pet it, unless it had been abused by its previous owner or something similar.

There are a few experiments with chimpanzees around the world that have been taught sign language, and they seem to show emotions when they are punished, rewarded, fed, or just generally feeling happy.

You can teach a guide dog not to chase a ball until ordered to, or not to respond to people patting it, control of instincts can and has been taught, and humans are the most evolutionary advanced in regards to this, though our sexual instinct certainly remains prevalent, because reproducing is an integral part of survival.

Insects actually decide whether the males courting ritual was fancy enough to merit intercourse, you could say emotions evolved from that too, having emotions is an advantage in survival, therefore they evolved when humans did, just as we got smarter, we got more complex.

Answer 3

Complexity. These are reflections of pleasure and pain as processed by the vast cerebral cortex. They persist because a survival benefit is offered.

One nucleus in the brain, the amygdala, actually manages the emotional context of memory.

Other primates have emotions, but abstract emotions require abstract thought. Adult chimps have the capacity to make abstractions at the level of a four year old child.

Answer 4

There is an answer to all your questions, but let me offer a counter question, just for thought. If evolution does not exist and God created humans, what spiritual purpose explains hate, anger, jealousy, greed, lust and fear? Did God plant these evil emotions into humans? Did God create evil? If not, why did God allow evil to come into being? Could not God have accomplished his purpose without allowing the human capacity for rape and murder?

If you say that God works in mysterious ways, then you truly have no answer and any crime, no matter how horrific, can be justified as part of God's plan.

Answer 5

Much of those elements are learned. Many are also exhibited by primates other than h. sapiens; there is nothing particularly unique about any of them. The evolutionary value of love should be obvious -- except to the Roman Catholic Church, which hasn't figured out that the reason that human females are sexually receptive at times other than fertile is an invaluable mechanism for keeping the family together so that the young can be successfully raised.

Answer 6

Those emotions are beneficial to our survival. Love helps make sure we stay with our spouse to help raise children. Guilt helps us because it puts pressure on us to avoid doing things that harm the group. Sorrow makes us protect each other so that we don't experience the loss of a person and the pain that follows. Etc.

Answer 7

Evan B. has got it right. Most of the different emotions you listed are actually represented by the same reactions in the brain. Just labeled according to the social situation, not the physical situation. Research some neurological studies. They are very fascinating.

Answer 8

Sure, I'll be happy to explain. Our emotions are by-products or reactions to various stimuli. And this common trait, like many others, is a product of our evolution as a social animal. We are taught the proper reactions to situations as young children, which also explains the deviant behavior exhibited by serial killers who were typically abused or neglected as children. g2g

Answer 9

They all support individual or human survival. Love - reproduction. Joy - productivity, wanting to continue. Shame - not screwing up the balance. Sorrow - same thing. Humiliation, embarrassment, guilt - tell you not to do that again.

Etc.

Answer 10

You just have to consider how our genes influence our fitness in the context of society. Would you want to choose a mate who did not have those emotions? If not, then they are key to fitness. Humans have been social organisms for millions of years, especially in small groups where individuals you interacted with were either family members, or people you could expect to see many times in the future.

The fact that we lack hair on our faces is related to the importance of communicating emotions in our species. It is a trend among many primates, allowing small changes in expression or skin color to be communicative.