Imagineaworldinwhichtherewassuddenlynoemotion―aworldinwhichhumanbeingscouldfeelnoloveorhappiness，noterrororhate.Trytoimaginetheconsequencesofsuchatransformation.Peoplemightnotbeabletostayalive:knowingneitherjoynorpleasureanxietynorfeartheywouldbeaslikelytorepeatactsthathurtthemasactsthatwerebeneficial.Theycouldnotlearn：theycouldnotbenefitfromexperiencebecausethisemotionlessworldwouldlackrewardsandpunishments.Societywouldsoondisappear:peoplewouldbeaslikelytoharmoneanotherastoprovidehelpandsupport.Humanrelationshipswouldnotexist：inaworldwithoutfriendsorenemies，therecouldbenomarriageaffectionamongcompanionsorbonds(关系)amongmembersofgroups.Societyseconomicunderpinnings(支柱)wouldbedestroyed：sinceearning$10millionwouldbenomorepleasantthanearning$10，therewouldbenoincentivetowork.Infact，therewouldbenoincentivesofanykindforaswewillseeincentivesimplyacapacitytoenjoythem.
Insuchaworldthechancesthatthehumanspecieswouldsurvivearenexttozerobecauseemotionsarethebasicinstrumentofoursurvivalandadaptation.Emotionsstructuretheworldforusinimportantways.Asindividualswecategorizeobjectsonthebasisofouremotions.Truewe
considerthelengthshapesizeortexturebutanobject'sphysicalaspectsarelessimportantthanwhatithasdoneorcandotous―hurtus，surpriseus，angerusormakeusjoyful.Wealsousecategorizationscoloredbyemotionsinourfamiliescommunitiesandoverallsociety.Outofouremotionalexperienceswithobjectsandeventscomesasocialfeelingofagreementthatcertainthingsandactionsare"good"andothersare"bad"，andweapplythesecategoriestoeveryaspectofoursociallife―fromwhatfoodsweeatandwhatclothesweweartohowwekeeppromisesandwhichpeopleourgroupwillaccept.Infactsocietyusesouremotionalreactionsandattitudessuchasloyaltymoralityprideshameguiltfearandgreedinordertomaintainitself.Jtgiveshighrewardstoindividualswhoperformimportanttaskssuchassurgeryandmakesheroesoutofindividualsforunusualordangerousachievementssuchasflyingfighterplanesinawarandusesthelegalsystemtomakepeopleafraidtoengageinantisocialacts.
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