RE: Emotions are intrinsically good and bad
September 25, 2017 at 5:22 pm
(This post was last modified: September 25, 2017 at 5:23 pm by Transcended Dimensions.)
(September 25, 2017 at 5:04 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: You are describing something that works for you and explains your world but not necessarily others.
Example: A pedophile thinks about molesting a child. In his/her mind there is nothing wrong with it, therefore a positive/good thought. This leads to a good emotion (according to you). They feel love, joy and excitement. Because of these feelings they now act on this emotion to feel even better and now there is a violated child with anything but love, joy and excitement.
According to you, do you consider this scenario objectively/intrinsically good?
I think if you continue this discussion with myself and others you'll find that good/bad, right/wrong are subjective.
Edit: I'm not sure where you're going with the last paragraph regarding neurotransmitters. Care to expand on that also?
The reason why my idea sounds false is only because you are using positive and good/bad the wrong way. The thought the pedophile would be having would be the thought of something good. He thought it was a good thing to molest the child, but it wouldn't be a good thought. Furthermore, the scenario itself wouldn't be objectively good. Rather, the pedophile would be able to perceive good value in his harmful actions by feeling a positive emotion. There is the difference between perceiving value as opposed to simply acknowledging it. A blind person can only acknowledge objects, but would not be able to perceive (see) them. As for my final paragraph, I was just making it clear what positive and negative emotions were.