Samael wrote:
>>Bryan Moss [bryan.moss@dial.pipex.com] wrote:
>>>Several months ago I tried to explain my views
>>>without much success, but I shall persist: We all agree that alien
>>>intelligence would be very different to human intelligence,
>>
>>I don't. If there are any sentient aliens of a similar technological level
>>to us, I think there's probably enough commonality of experience that
there
>>would be less difference between the average human and average alien than
>>between the average human and the average resident of a mental hospital.
>>
>>I may be wrong, but we don't all agree on this.
>
>
>I agree with you. Out intelligence would almost certianly be similar, our
>emotions, on the other hand, may well be very, very different.
>
>Samael
Maybe. But why do you presume that cognitive elements are likely to be similar while emotional elements are likely to be dissimilar? In the book, Descarte's Error (D'amasio, Antonio, R. (1992) Descarte's Error; Emotion, Reason, and the Human), a neuroscientist discusses the pivotal and critical role of emotions in effective decision-making. I guess it's possible for aliens to have unheard of emotions, but I would expect them to experience anger, fear, sadness, joy, and the other basic emotions . . . pretty much the same way we do.
Scott