Artificially Controlling Human Emotion

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of artificially controlling human emotions, exploring the implications and ethical considerations of such technology. Participants reference existing methods of emotional manipulation and draw parallels to science fiction narratives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that if a device to control emotions for the better were developed, its use should be considered.
  • One participant humorously notes that actors already manipulate emotions, indicating that such control exists in a different form.
  • Another participant mentions existing drugs that can alter emotions, suggesting a precedent for emotional manipulation.
  • Concerns are raised about the definition of "to the better" and the potential risks involved in such manipulation.
  • Participants reference science fiction works, questioning the effectiveness of removing language associated with negative emotions as a means of emotional control.
  • There is a debate about whether the removal of words can truly eliminate the emotions they describe.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of viewpoints, with some supporting the idea of emotional control and others cautioning against its implications. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the ethical considerations and potential consequences of such technology.

Contextual Notes

Participants' arguments depend on subjective interpretations of what constitutes emotional manipulation and the ethical boundaries of such practices. There are also references to fictional narratives that may not directly apply to real-world scenarios.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in ethics, psychology, technology, and science fiction may find this discussion relevant.

avant-garde
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In the future, if mankind engineered a device that could voluntarily be used to control and manipulate our emotions for the better, should we use them?
 
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We already have such a device. They are called actors. I had a college classmate who liked to yell in people's faces (he wanted to mess with), ranting off a loud tirade of insulting speech, becoming quite red in the face, and watch their reaction. After the first couple times, I knew it was a put on.. But he certainly manipulated their emotions..
 
I take that as a creative way to say "yes".
 
We have many drugs that do this to an extent.
 
I would be extremely careful as to what extent "to the better" would be taken.
 
*-<|:-D=<-< said:
I would be extremely careful as to what extent "to the better" would be taken.

How the hell do you pronounce your name? :confused:
 
Danger said:
How the hell do you pronounce your name? :confused:

It must be zero.
 
Danger said:
How the hell do you pronounce your name? :confused:

The others call me Santa. =)
 
Was it Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451' or Phillip K. Dick's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' that had the box one could use to 'dial in' an emotion? The sci-fi dystopias run together dometimes. In that vein, you could always go the Orwellian '1984' route of simply removing all words for negative emotion from the lexicon. Pretty creative.
 
  • #10
Anticitizen said:
Was it Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451' or Phillip K. Dick's 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' that had the box one could use to 'dial in' an emotion? The sci-fi dystopias run together dometimes. In that vein, you could always go the Orwellian '1984' route of simply removing all words for negative emotion from the lexicon. Pretty creative.

But would removing the words we use to describe emotions really get rid of the emotions that the words we removed described?

And I'm pretty sure it was "do androids dream of electric sheep" btw.
 

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