Poll: Would you give up emotions for a higher understanding/better logic or keep your emotions?

[Hectix777]

I thought about this as I play Dragon Age( I just got the game today, I know it's old, sue me). I started off as a human male Mage, I started walking around and exploring the place( like I do any RPG or sandbox game) and found Owain, a Tranquil. Tranquils are sorta like mages who get cut off from the dreamworld, the source of all mages power, and become the equivalent of laborers or slaves. In the Rite of Tranquility, any apprentice Mage who doesn't want to undergo the Harrowing( the Mage rite of passage and self control of their powers), considered a threat, or a hindrance go through the Rite of Tranquility. It basically not only severs them from their magic powers, but also leaves them emotionless slaves. They still function and work like servants, but there's....nothing there. Apparently, Dragon Age magic is powered by the dreamworld and the dreamworld is powered by emotions, so emotions power magic. So in order for them to not be a threat or reject their magic, they become emotionless slaves.

But this isn't about the Dragon Age lore, it's what the Tranquil Owain said.

I can't remember what EXACTLY it was but it was basically amongst the lines of,"I'm smarter now that I have no emotions."

That kinda scared me for a second and thought," how does no emotions makenyou smarter," it was pretty obvious after I thought for a second

Brain works like a machine with workers: 50% goes to logic(book knowledge, memories, mottos, etc.) and 50% emotion (happy, sad, tasty, disgusting, etc.). Since Owain and other Tranquil got rid of emotion they're now 100% logic.

So if you had the chance to trade emotion for a SERIOUS boost in your IQ( like 75-100 pts to your current IQ), wouldnyou do it or keepnyour emotions and retain the same IQ?

I like my emotions, and I'm pretty smart to begin with( I took a test on writing and I write better than a junior in college and I'm in grade 10), but emotion fits in with me wanting to be an artist. Sure, if I had a high IQ I could cure cancer or invent teleporters from Star Trek, but what's it worth since I wouldn't have any drive to invent anymore.

 

[Leg End]

Considering I don't have any and I have been here since before the birth of your universe, no, I would not.

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

It would kind of be like being autistic wouldn't it?

You could become a genius...but you're still autistic....

 

[PoliceBox63]

No way, jose. Feck omniscience. If I can't feel emotions then what the hell is there to live for...

 

[mireko]

No. Without emotions I'd more or less be a zombie, which doesn't strike me as being particularly fun or useful.

Considering I don't have any and I have been here since before the birth of your universe, no, I would not.

Hah, you can't fool us. We all know your weakness.

 

[ultrachicken]

There's no point in having knowledge if you can't enjoy it.

 

[Squeaky]

Even though my emotions are pritty numb already id rather have my little emotions than be intelligent and not be able to feel lust,love or pain and sorrow.

 

[Bobbity]

If you can't even feel satisfaction and what you're doing/learning, then that's a pretty sad existence. In answer, not I would not.

 

[Requx]

Im more of a kirk than a spock.

 

[Leg End]

No. Without emotions I'd more or less be a zombie, which doesn't strike me as being particularly fun or useful.

Considering I don't have any and I have been here since before the birth of your universe, no, I would not.

Hah, you can't fool us. We all know your weakness.

And what pray tell would that weakness be?

 

[jack583]

logic gets things done and solves problems.
emotions spark creativity and imagination, thus allowing ideas to form.
without emotions you would not be able to imagine something on your own.
therefore any new inventions would not exist.
so they could only repair a teleporter from star trek, not invint one.
they will only know what is in front of them. so if something does not exist, they wont know how to make it.
no emotions = no progress

 

[Nieroshai]

Both are necessary for the other to be fully functional. A fully logical person cares nothing for anything other than facilitating whatever he/she cares to influence. A purely emotional person is useless to society. Emotion is motive, logic is action. Without one, the other is empty fluff.

 

[Hectix777]

No way, jose. Feck omniscience. If I can't feel emotions then what the hell is there to live for...

But you wouldn't say/think that because you'd be unable to feel emotion itself and would not actually be depressed or think that there is no reason to live.

 

[similar.squirrel]

Intelligence is useless without some kind of catalyst. Goodbye inspiration, endeavor, empathy and pride. Nothing new to do if you don't feel like doing anything.

 

[PoliceBox63]

No way, jose. Feck omniscience. If I can't feel emotions then what the hell is there to live for...

But you wouldn't say/think that because you'd be unable to feel emotion itself and would not actually be depressed or think that there is no reason to live.

"Would you give up emotions for a higher understanding/better logic or keep your emotions?"

I choose not to give up my emotions.

 

[FalloutJack]

It would kind of be like being autistic wouldn't it?

You could become a genius...but you're still autistic....

Autistic people are not without emotion, though.

OT: I'm already highly-intelligent and know that a perfect understanding of all that is would leave me with nothing to work towards.

 

[Zeroandx]

Emotions are what make humans weak, I say we cast them aside and realize out true potential.

 

[luclin92]

give up my creativity and joy no thanks. without emotions i would end up as a sad being that wil never end up doing something that can help a lot of people.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

As difficult a question this is to answer, I managed to find a comforting answer. Being that I rarely get very emotional, it's easy to forget, but my behavior changes radically when I'm under an ungodly amount of stress due to extreme anger or dire circumstances. I become indescribably calm and ruthlessly brilliant.

My emotions, though they usually hinder my intellect in small to medium doses, help me tremendously when shit hits the fan. Though I'd be notably more intelligent by default if I surrendered my emotions, I would no longer have that fuel when circumstances sour.

 

[Lazier Than Thou]

It is because of my emotions that I am as smart as I am. Due to severe depression and (probably) being bi-polar, it has given me an enormous need to think, rethink, repeat. Depression and what it does to people is probably why I know things other people don't know. It's the reason I think about minute details, ask questions, and strive for answers.

Granted, it's also the reason I have a grand total of one friend that I speak to on a semi regular basis and have very suicidal tendencies. Regardless, I see my emotions as a positive.

For anyone that wants to know more about depression and what I'm talking about here:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=depressions-evolutionary