Human Consciousness: emotions are learned (Humans)

by David Turell , Friday, February 17, 2017, 19:32 (2834 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: Emotions are reactions to perceptions, whether sensory or psychological, so of course there is no “fundamental” difference – they are both perceptions which can also be called experiences.

QUOTES relating first to existing theories: “In other words, emotions aren’t a response to what our brain takes in from our observations, but, rather, are intrinsic to our makeup.” But the new theory sees “emotional states as similar to other states of consciousness.”

The existing theory as reproduced here simply conflates reaction with the nature of the reaction. The emotions we feel, just like our decisions, our social behaviour and all our other “states of consciousness” ARE a response to perception/experience. But the WAY we respond is intrinsic to our makeup. All our states of consciousness follow the same obvious pattern: experience precedes reaction. Is it really possible that nobody thought of this before?

I feel your objections to this theory are highly relevant. Our consciousness develops its relationships to reality by experiencing reality.