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I think most of those examples have a rational basis and the non-emotional person could probably make better decisions than the rest of us e.g. choosing a job o

I think most of those examples have a rational basis and the non-emotional person could probably make better decisions than the rest of us e.g. choosing a job offer on the basis of benefits and prospects rather than because the office looked cool. Such a person would make an astounding diplomat. The reward mechanism would probably be in maximizing physical comfort in return for minimal physical effort.

mikeash 11y ago
Without emotions, what would cause a person to prefer physical comfort over physical discomfort?
- StavrosK 11y ago
  Comfort and discomfort aren't emotions. Pain isn't an emotion, and the absence of pain is desirable by people who don't have emotions.
  - _nedR 11y ago
    Pain, hunger, sexual urges, etc. can't be classified by emotions. Maybe we can include fear of injury or death in this as well. Even a baby can feel these things (except of course sexual urges). But beyond that everything else is an emotion - happiness, sadness, anger, annoyance, loneliness. Beyond the most basic tasks everything requires emotions to drive you. Why do you study for an upcoming exam? Because you are anxious about getting a good grade? Why are you anxious? Because you may not want to upset your parents? Why does that bother you? You love them or fear their displeasure. Why do you fear your parent's displeasure? Ignoring corporal punishment (which could be an avoidance of pain/injury), other reasons include wanting to avoid stress, or being upset when they confront you about it. And so on. You cannot get through life except the most basic functions (like avoiding pain, eating, sleeping, etc) without emotions. The article seems to equate the reduced perception of emotions to a total absence of them.
    - StavrosK 11y ago
      No, I study for an exam so I can get a degree so I can get a good job so I'll find it easier to have a more comfortable life. It's a purely rational choice.
- jerf 11y ago
  This is one of those times that I'd remind everybody that words are labels that have no power on their own. "No emotions" does not necessarily mean "never experiences anything that could possibly be covered by any of the senses of the English word 'emotion'". When it really gets down to it, we don't have a great ability to distinguish between "comfort", "happiness", "satisfaction", or any of a dozen other related concepts in our own mental lives, let alone start getting really precise about analyzing somebody else's, let alone doing so to someone whose mental qualia appear to be substantially different than ours.

mikeash 11y ago

Without emotions, what would cause a person to prefer physical comfort over physical discomfort?

StavrosK 11y ago
Comfort and discomfort aren't emotions. Pain isn't an emotion, and the absence of pain is desirable by people who don't have emotions.
- _nedR 11y ago
  Pain, hunger, sexual urges, etc. can't be classified by emotions. Maybe we can include fear of injury or death in this as well. Even a baby can feel these things (except of course sexual urges). But beyond that everything else is an emotion - happiness, sadness, anger, annoyance, loneliness. Beyond the most basic tasks everything requires emotions to drive you. Why do you study for an upcoming exam? Because you are anxious about getting a good grade? Why are you anxious? Because you may not want to upset your parents? Why does that bother you? You love them or fear their displeasure. Why do you fear your parent's displeasure? Ignoring corporal punishment (which could be an avoidance of pain/injury), other reasons include wanting to avoid stress, or being upset when they confront you about it. And so on. You cannot get through life except the most basic functions (like avoiding pain, eating, sleeping, etc) without emotions. The article seems to equate the reduced perception of emotions to a total absence of them.
  - StavrosK 11y ago
    No, I study for an exam so I can get a degree so I can get a good job so I'll find it easier to have a more comfortable life. It's a purely rational choice.
jerf 11y ago
This is one of those times that I'd remind everybody that words are labels that have no power on their own. "No emotions" does not necessarily mean "never experiences anything that could possibly be covered by any of the senses of the English word 'emotion'". When it really gets down to it, we don't have a great ability to distinguish between "comfort", "happiness", "satisfaction", or any of a dozen other related concepts in our own mental lives, let alone start getting really precise about analyzing somebody else's, let alone doing so to someone whose mental qualia appear to be substantially different than ours.