RE: Divergent sexualities
November 1, 2023 at 9:23 am
(This post was last modified: November 1, 2023 at 9:25 am by FrustratedFool.)
Psuedo-reciprocity is all that seems to be required to generate the chemical brain state we call the emotion of love. Illusions are sufficient.
People can experience the same love emotion they have for their spouses, for example, in their dreams for dream characters, or during hallucinations, or in religious interactions with their deity or whatever. I have felt intense love in dreams and during moments of religious ecstasy, and it is similar in quality (though different in practical outworking) to the love I've felt for human lovers, friends and family.
If it was revealed to me that my child was an automaton, a P-zombie or simulation, and had never been conscious, the love I have had for them wouldn't have been any less than others would have had for their children even though there never would never have been any real reciprocity. And I would continue to feel that emotion subsequently (I mean, I already beleive all humans lack freewill and are conscious organic robots).
So yes, love as a bare emotion doesn't require anything beyond ourselves.
People can experience the same love emotion they have for their spouses, for example, in their dreams for dream characters, or during hallucinations, or in religious interactions with their deity or whatever. I have felt intense love in dreams and during moments of religious ecstasy, and it is similar in quality (though different in practical outworking) to the love I've felt for human lovers, friends and family.
If it was revealed to me that my child was an automaton, a P-zombie or simulation, and had never been conscious, the love I have had for them wouldn't have been any less than others would have had for their children even though there never would never have been any real reciprocity. And I would continue to feel that emotion subsequently (I mean, I already beleive all humans lack freewill and are conscious organic robots).
So yes, love as a bare emotion doesn't require anything beyond ourselves.
