Harumi

Has anyone ever heard this phrase before? Not necessarily directed at them, but perhaps on TV, reading a book, or on the 'Net.

I'm talking about emotions, and what emotions make a person human. What doesn't?

For instance, say a kid saw someone being murdered, and didn't care at all. No, how about several someones, a whole population of someones. He saw their gruesome murders, then walked on. He's biologically human, but would you consider such a person human though? What is it about emotions that makes someone human? What does it MEAN (emotional-wise) to be human?

Are there any philosophers that touch on this subject? I wish to research the question.

Sorry for disturbing you all.
Dephanie

Mecha_Dude

To me, Human is just the common name of the species to which I belong, Homo Sapien
I don't care if a person ate 3 kittens for breakfast, a puppy for lunch and a dinner composed of a person roasted on a spit like a chicken, they're still biologically human.

Txiasaeia

If u think somebody isn't human, try giving him the Turing test

seebs

It's not literal; it's just that there are certain people so disgusting that we are ashamed to admit that they're part of our species. It's the "no true Scotsman" defense.

Wasim

It is the compassionate nature of the human soul, which leads one to develop feelings of such remorse, guilt, fear, love and mercy.

What must be realised in order to advance ones understanding of the true nature of the self is the impact of society upon ones worldviews.

Questions relating to 'Do I think such and such is wrong, or is it that I am made (via society) to perceive such and such as wrong?' However, the subjective and/or objective nature of such questioning and reasoning does not lead to one explaining the emrgence of emotions and their relation to our experiences. To think that just because one person sees red and feels happy is not to be over generalised and applied to the population as a whole.

Such emotions are relative to teh individual and are therefore subject to the individuals will. Exactly from whence do these emotions arise? From the Self. And pray tell what exactly is the Sself? Why, the Soul ofcourse!

Ofcourse!

A3

Hi Harumi,
Your question would seem almost central to this whole website. What is it that makes a person human. As Swedenborg puts it, we have the potentiality to be human because we have a will and an understanding. With the will we can will to do good and with our understanding we can try to understand truth. In as far as we cultivate these faculties we create a human rationality. We all know that a hypocrite can praise God, a crook can defend honesty and an adulterer can praise marriage. We can force ourselves against our will, that’s what it means to have free will. Animals cannot pretend (that’s why some people prefer them) because they have an instinct. Humans can because we have a mind that we can develop if we want to. (our soul is above that)
To walk passed the scene of a murder is inhuman, animal-like. Humans can care, show compassion, love, animals cannot. A dog can be dragged behind a pick-up truck by its owner till it has no more legs to stand on, but the next time this dog sees its owner it will wag its tail. That is not love but a form of instinct.
Human beings are the only beings that have been created in the image of God and with the potential to become His likeness. But again, we don’t have to, we have the ability to become worse than animals. We are, you might say, born that way. Completely ignorant and 100% dependent. Of course there is a whole lot more to this but it basically is above science. The edge of science lies between THAT we think and WHAT we think. One we can see on a screen or in a test-tube the other we can’t. The only place we can find anything on the spiritual can be found in revelation, however we chose to define that.
A3

WJ

Dephanie!

One way to study the matter philosphically, would be thru existentialism; psychologically, thru a number of humanist's like Maslow and E. Fromme. Maslow's books (the Psychology of Being and The Further Reaches of Human Nature) is an easily readable sourse of usable info.

Otherwise, just think about the Star Trek character Spock.

...hope that helps some.

Walrus

A3

Hello Walrus,
And sorry Dephanie for not looking at the bottom of you message to see how you signed. Walrus is more experienced in that.
It took some time to come back again, the two weeks seem to have grown into two months. The offer I made, however, still stands. If you would like to have a look, the file (.pdf , 853 Kb) is of a book called "The Human Mind" based on Swedenborg's Writings. My profile includes the email address so let me know. It will be worth your study.

Regards
Adrian

WJ

Too, and easy way to start might be to look at the simple definition of 'consciousness'. One definition is that we are aware of ourselves or conscious of our existence or Being.

In that regard, the question(s) could be posed to the individual who seemingly lacks emotions: How does it make *you* feel when you commit murder? Are you yourself aware that killing is something that is bad, hurtfull, remorsefull, scary, undersirable, not virtuous , etc..

Beyond those kinds of questions, perhaps a bit of Freudian psychotherapy or professional consultation is in order...certainly beyond the capabilities of many here including myself.

Nonetheless, it is an interesting question as to perhaps why , on a healthy individual level, that say, some people have greater needs for emotional stimulation over others...and the associated benefits.

Walrus

Blu

My two cents:

It is what separates human beings from other animals. We think and we feel. We have the ability to empathise and feel compassion for other people who have nothing to do with our physical survival or who are not related to us. When someone reacts in an anti-compassionate way or who exhibit an apathetic attitude towards other people who are suffering that means they have separated themselves from what makes the human species unique.

I believe that is why we call malicious people, not human.