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Hypnotoad
Guest
The existence of sentimental value? Is it possible using science to measure such a thing?
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hannajomar
Guest
I remember a physiological psychology professor in college who was an atheist. Sometimes he would say things such as happiness is really just a chemical reaction in the brain. Many emotions can be linked to chemicals in our brains.
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SweetVerda
Guest
Science cannot prove anything, it only obtains evidence to support theories. Math proves things, given certain postulates.
That said, what do you mean by the existence of sentimental value? That people attach values to objects that are not inherent in their physical properties? That a child will treat a stuffed rabbit as a friend, and when seeing the toy ten years later they will break down crying because it embodies their childhood and happiness lost? One could observe this, and say that it happens. Through science one could conduct an experiment and see how, in certain situations, people tend to assign emotional worth to objects, and say that this supports the existence of sentimental value.
But I’m not quite sure what you’re asking.
That said, what do you mean by the existence of sentimental value? That people attach values to objects that are not inherent in their physical properties? That a child will treat a stuffed rabbit as a friend, and when seeing the toy ten years later they will break down crying because it embodies their childhood and happiness lost? One could observe this, and say that it happens. Through science one could conduct an experiment and see how, in certain situations, people tend to assign emotional worth to objects, and say that this supports the existence of sentimental value.
But I’m not quite sure what you’re asking.
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Safia
Guest
You would have to define sentimental value for us in order to successfully answer your question.
I think you might be asking about the presence of an affective sphere – the heart, for example, and the sentimentality it is capable of. I think most scientists would tell you no, because science explains something that can be observed, by definition. If you’re looking for some awesome insight into the presence of the affective, I recommend THE HEART by Dietrich von Hildebrand and the beginning chapters of LOVE & RESPONSIBILITY by Blessed JPII (as Cardinal Wojtyla).
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Hypnotoad
Guest
Thank you everyone for the responses. I think I have my answer.
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