Imagineaworldinwhichtherewassuddenlynoemotion--aworldinwhichhumanbeingscouldfeelnoloveorhappinessnoterrororhate.Trytoimaginetheconsequencesofsuchatransformation.Peoplemightnotbeabletostayalive:knowingneitherjoynorpleasureanxietynorfeartheywouldbeaslikelytorepeatactsthathurtthemasactsthatwerebeneficial.Theycouldnotlearn:theycouldnotbenefitfromexperiencebecausethisemotionlessworldwouldlackrewardsandpunishments.Societywouldsoondisappear:peoplewouldbeaslikelytoharmoneanotherastoprovidehelpandsupport.Humanrelationshipswouldnotexist:inaworldwithoutfriendsorenemiestherecouldbenomarriageaffectionamongcompanionsorbonds(关系)amongmembersofgroups.Society'seconomicunderpinnings(支柱)wouldbedestroyed:sinceearning$10millionwouldbenomorepleasantthanearning$10therewouldbenoincentivetowork.Infacttherewouldbenoincentivesofanykindforaswewillseeincentivesimplyacapacitytoenjoythem.
Insuchaworldthechancesthatthehumanspecieswouldsurvivearenexttozerobecauseemotionsarethebasicinstrumentofoursurvivalandadaptation.Emotionsstructuretheworldforusinimportantways.Asindividualswecategorizeobjectsonthebasisofouremotions.Trueweconsiderthelengthshapesizeortexturebutanobject'sphysicalaspectsarelessimportantthanwhatithasdoneorcandotous--hurtussurpriseusangerusormakeusjoyful.Wealsousecategorizationscoloredbyemotionsinourfamiliescommunitiesandoverallsociety.Outofouremotionalexperienceswithobjectsandeventscomesasocialfeelingofagreementthatcertainthingsandactionsare"good"andothersare"bad”andweapplythesecategoriestoeveryaspectofoursociallife--fromwhatfoodsweeatandwhatclothesweweartohowwekeeppromisesandwhichpeopleourgroupwillaccept.Infactsocietyusesouremotionalreactionsandattitudessuchasloyaltymoralityprideshameguiltfearandgreedinordertomaintainitself.Itgiveshighrewardstoindividualswhoperformimportanttaskssuchassurgerymakesheroesoutofindividualsforunusualordangerousachievementssuchasflyingfighterplanesinawarandusesthelegalpenal(刑法的)systemtomakepeopleafraidtoengageinantisocialacts.