"Emotions make us human" - Really?

Question

Quite often I hear people say, "emotions make us human".

But why does this idea persist? Everyone has seen a happy dog, a frightened wild animal, an angry or frustrated animal in the zoo, etc. While the emotions an animal may exhibit are surely different than how they occur in people, they are not unique to humans.

Also, there are several personality types where people have a "flat effect", where they appear to have no emotions.

Today I received news that one of my uncles has died. They found him slumped over his steering wheel, having had a heart attack. The call came in while I was visiting my parents, relayed to me by my mother who was in tears, barely able to speak (it was her brother).

However upon hearing it there was no emotional response, I didn't break down or bawl my eyes out. My very first reaction was to say "Well, they knew it was going to happen eventually" because this particular uncle had a serious heart defect. There was no shock, no sadness, nothing.

Now while this reaction doesn't bother me (I'm aware it's how I am, I was diagnosed with 'antisocial personality disorder' a while back), I always wonder how this makes me appear to other people. With them believing it is emotions that make us human, what does that mean for a human who, for the most part, doesn't feel them?

What's your view on this? Do you believe it is our emotions that make us human?

Answer 1

Our consious mind makes us human.  Emotions just affirm that we're alive.

Answer 2

animal have emotions too just look at some of the videos on Peta.org i believe the main thing that separate us from them is posable thumbs (of course but speaking more so not only the physical) and a few mental difference of brain power and such.

the mindset, is somewhat the same in many people as in animals "to survive" even if it means having to harm.

people like animals when feeling like the are being threaten almost always attack, in means of defense. or maybe just from... pure instinct?

whatever it maybe i don't believe there  is truly much that separate human beings from animals (in a mental sense at least) we all just want security and bliss.

Answer 3

I wonder the same thing, but in the end regardless of your emotions, I believe it is your actions that dictate your humanity. I guess your ability to feel can help determine what you choose to do.

We all live our existence in a different way.

Requiring more emotional stimulus to illicit some sort of response I think doesn't make you or me any less human than anyone else.

Then again, things sometimes just make sense in theory, but are hard to really swallow in reality.