What is the worst emotion a human being can feel?

There are a multitude of human emotions that exist that could be considered the worst emotion; anger, fear, sadness, shame, envy and so many more. Even what’s considered good emotions people could suggest are the worst; joy, trust, kindness, surprise. Above all others, I believe love to be the worst emotion for a human being to feel, for love spurs all other emotion into being. Without love, there would be no need for the other emotions because the main drive, the main essence of humanity is its ability to love. Love is the starting point to all human emotions and thus our actions. For why would we hate if we were not angry, why would we be angry if we did not fear, why would we fear if we were not hurt, why would we be hurt if we did not love, and why would we love if we were never loved? Love is the cornerstone, the center of all humanity and it drives people to do unthinkable things.

If one asked Mr. Sherlock Holmes, or Mr. Spock, two men who people might consider the greatest philosophers of all time, what they thought the worst emotion a human could have, I do believe they would say something along the lines that all human emotions are a massive imperfection to the great possibility’s one could attain if they purged all emotion from their being. Mr. Sherlock Holmes is known for his great reasoning and deductive skills through observation and skills in understanding logic and the way things occur due to cause and effect. Sherlock Holmes would probably like to consider himself a sociopath, one who is devoid of all emotion and he would suggest that that makes him all the better; emotion hinders the mind from detection which is his life. What would he think specifically about love? Sherlock Holmes once said that “love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things”. Based upon his words and often cold disposition, I believe he would say that love would be the worst human emotion. Mr. Spock would most likely have to agree. Mr. Spock is known as the half- Vulcan/ half- human, science officer who holds logic and reason above all else, especially in the midst of emotional humans. Vulcans are known for their avoidance of emotions and as part Vulcan, Mr. Spock wished to complete a ritual, called Kolinahr, that would purge all remaining emotion from his person so that he and other Vulcans may perhaps consider him more than just half human. Spock is known for his ability to be emotionally detached and that pleases him to no end. He would say that emotion is the cause of all brutality in the worlds. Spock once said that he did not care about serving with humans because “I find their illogic and foolish emotions a constant irritant.” Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Spock are both mathematical in their dealings with the world and they would both say that humans would be better off if they were delivered from the effects of emotion, especially love.

It is immensely interesting, the effect of flesh and blood compared to a machine and what that can do when faced with emotion and love. While Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Spock are comprised of flesh and blood, and are typically prone to emotion while wanting to get rid of their humanity, machines or robots, who are known to be programed without emotion are seemingly in constant want of emotion. For want of examples I produce Andrew Martin and Lt. Commander Data. Andrew Martin, from Bicentennial Man, is known for being, well, an Android; a robot that was made to serve a family called the Martins. Andrew was different from the very start, he was interested in humanity and was very curious about the world. Though the creators of Andrew said that this was a malfunction or a mistake to be corrected, Mr. Martin decided to leave Andrew to become whatever he was meant to be. After a long while of serving and learning what it meant to be human, though not actually being able to feel the emotions that make humans human, Andrew wanted more. He realized that all the people he would grow to care for, would all cease to exist one day, leaving him to live an eternity alone. Andrew couldn’t stand for this, so years of travel helped him discover a man that would held him physically become human. Andrew would do anything in the world in order to feel and live and die as a human would. Andrew said that, “As a robot I could have lived forever. But I tell you all today I would rather die a man than live for all eternity as a machine” Andrew was a robot that wanted nothing more than to be able to feel and love and die as a human, rather than live forever as an unfeeling machine. Lt. Commander Data is another such robot that was programmed without emotion yet with the curiosities about humanity. Most times he could not understand the complexities of emotion yet he strived to learn everything he could, for all he desired was to be human. Data once said that, “There are still many human emotions I do not fully comprehend- anger, hatred, revenge. But I am not mystified by the desire to be loved- or the need for friendship. These are the things I do understand.” Even as a robot, Data knew what emotion meant to humans, though not being able to feel or understand it completely, but he still strived to act upon it, doing heroic acts of bravery. Data said that “If being human is not simply a matter of being born flesh and blood, if it is instead a way of thinking, acting, and… feeling, then I am hopeful that one day I will discover my own humanity. Until then I will continue learning, changing, growing, and trying to become more than what I am.” Learning that even actual mechanical beings, built without the ability to feel emotion, is what brings light to the fact that love drives all and that Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Spock cannot escape the humanity that is deep within them.

Mr. Spock once said that, “After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but is often true”.

Flesh and blood versus mechanics, feeling versus unfeeling. A misconception about Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Spock is that they are without emotion, without feeling and without humanity, I say now that this is untrue, for love is an emotion that is within us all and if not even a robot can escape it, then no man can either. It is funny that two men who have the ability to feel immensely, seem to want the opposite, while the opposite would oppose to such an idea. Though both men would say all these things about how emotion is a bother not worth having, it is quite clear that these men are not as coldhearted as they want to appear. It appears that words can lie and actions betray the true wills of emotion in these two men. Although Mr. Sherlock Holmes would say that “emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning” that doesn’t mean that his reasoning skills have never been clouded due to unintentional emotional responses. Once looking in-between the lines, it becomes clear that, as much as he claims to want to be devoid of emotion, it is there inside him. He claims to be a sociopath, antisocial with a lack of a consciousness, however he just can’t help when it comes to matters he cares about. It’s true that he tries to repress his emotions and passions in life, as to keep his brain sharp and clear, however, doing such a thing seems all in itself an emotional response. To physically try to cut a huge part of yourself out is an extremely emotional decision that deals with consequences like being a workaholic and dealing with drug addiction. Though Sherlock has done a good job of tricking the world, it is quite clear that he does have quite a bit of emotions buried deep within himself. It is abundantly clear whenever Sherlock’s one and only friend is around, Doctor John Watson. Because of sentiment and emotion, there is nothing Sherlock wouldn’t do for Dr. Watson. The hidden emotion of Mr. Sherlock Holmes can also be said of Mr. Spock, the unfeeling green blooded hobgoblin that some people perceive him as. Just like Sherlock, who uses his amazing mental abilities to try and suppress his emotions, Mr. Spock in truth, is not an unfeeling machine, but a man who has spent his whole life pushing his emotions deep within himself, in fear of rejection of his people. The misconception about Vulcan’s is that they have no emotion, but in truth, the reason they seem as though they don’t is because their emotions are immensely strong and powerful, more so than humans. In years past on the planet Vulcan, the people were as of savages, not being able to control their lusts for every emotion, even being able to kill people they cared about. One day a Vulcan of peace decided no more of such savagery and discovered a way to suppress the emotions, techniques such as Kolinahr. The problem about this however for Spock was that, he never completed this test. It may have been his half-human side or something else, but his emotions, his love for his friends would not allow him to purge the feelings he has. There have been a multitude of examples that prove that Spock is not as unfeeling as others would like to suggest. Although Spock has always a constant mind of reasoning and logic, he knows that “Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end”. There have been examples of his humanity while showing that humans can be the ones who lack the regard for life and can’t spare room in their hearts for others. Spock, though subtly, always shows his compassion and love for others, people don’t often see or appreciate it. It’s sad because he’s even said that when he feels friendship for someone (his best friend Jim), he feels ashamed (because of his Vulcan heritage). By saying that he is ashamed of his friendship to Jim, it proves that he does feel friendship and love. It is funny because although Sherlock and Spock both say that they hold logic and reason above all else, it is proven otherwise.

Spoiler alert for Bicentenial Man, Star Trek, and Sherlock below:

Love is the worst emotion, and I think you will all agree. Love is what spurs all other emotions, the kind of emotions that make you vulnerable, that make you do crazy things. Love is dangerous because it is the worst and best emotion there is. Love is the emotion that causes people to do anything for the ones they care about. “Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13 Love is what makes Andrew Martin reject his immortality for the woman he loves. Love is what makes Sherlock Holmes sacrifice his life to protect his friend. Love is what makes Data sacrifice his existence for his friend. And love is what makes Spock sacrifice himself for his best friend and an entire crew while saying, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one”. Love is the reason why James T. Kirk, Spock’s best friend, at his funeral says of this logical, unemotional Vulcan, that “of my friend, I can only say this: of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… human.”

Love is the worst emotion a human being can feel because how can you sacrifice yourself if you have never loved or have been loved yourself?

Live Long and Prosper

In honor and remembrance of Leonard Nimoy. “Loss of life is to be mourned, but only if the life was wasted.”

You will Live Long and Prosper in my life Mr. Nimoy