Simon L:
Smell something. You might like it. that is based on a feeling. But the smell itself also is.
The word feeling describes two things. The smell itself is a feeling, as in a physical sensation. The liking or disliking of it is a feeling, as in an emotional reaction.
Simon L:
You might here the sound of some fireworks exploding. You may or may not like it, that is based on a feeling. The way you actually hear it, is based on a feeling as well.
The word feeling describes two things. The sound itself is a feeling, as in a physical sensation. The liking or disliking of it is a feeling, as in an emotional reaction.
Simon L:
So, unless Richard has found a way to function without that, he was either:
a) lying
b) unaware of this level of functioning
c) in a state where those feelings don't exist either.
Or he is using the word 'feeling' differently than you.
Simon L:
You can have the feeling of excitement. If you're smart enough, you can see where this feeling is located.
Yes. That is a feeling, as in an emotional reaction.
Simon L:
You can have the emotion of love. You can see where it is located.
Yes. That is a feeling, as in an emotional reaction.
Simon L:
And you can see how there essentially is no difference between feelings and emotions.
There is essentially no difference between the feeling, as in the feeling of excitement, and the feeling, as in the emotion of love. Both are emotional reactions.
Simon L:
And maybe you now see that any perception you have, is based on a feeling.
The perception of touch depends on the 'feeling', as in the physical sensation, of touch. This is a different use of the word 'feeling' than the 'feeling', as in the emotional reaction, of exhilaration.
Simon L:
So what goes away in AF, and what remains?
You don't have feelings, as in emotional reactions - feelings of excitement, feelings of exhilaration, feelings of freedom/of despair/of love.
You do have feelings, as in physical sensations - feelings of the air on your skin, or the feeling of the sound of fireworks exploding hitting your ear, etc.
Simon L:
Are you begginning to see the flaws of AF btw?
Not yet, since this has so far been an exercise in using the word 'feeling' properly.
Simon L:
Richard claims he has no feelings.
He said he has no feelings, as in emotional reactions, e.g. feelings of exhilaration/excitement/etc.
Simon L:
But functioning without the feelings *of* things is impossible.
Indeed.
Simon L:
So either he didn't notice that or he's a fraud.
Or he is using the word 'feeling' differently than you.
Simon L:
But saying that he has no feelings at all (he did say this).
He said he has no feelings, as in emotional reactions, e.g. feelings of exhilaration/excitement/etc.
Simon L:
This is something that factually is, if you really examine it, impossible.
Indeed.
Simon L:
So when Richard says he has no feelings, he is either lying or not recognizing what is going on. In any case, it's impossible to be true.
Or he is using the word 'feeling' differently than you.
----------
Maybe this will help. Sometimes, in the English language, the same word describes two different things. Take the noun 'address'. It can either mean the place where someone lives (e.g. 123 Fake Street), or a speech given to a group of persons (e.g. the president's inaugural address). These are
two different things.
Say that someone's job is to give speeches to different groups of people. He gives addresses all day, every day. Suddenly he is fired. You could say, "he now no longer gives addresses." However, this doesn't mean he no longer gives his address (as in place of residence) out if somebody needs to mail him a letter. He stopped giving addresses, as in speeches, but not his address, as in his place of residence.
Likewise with feeling. The noun 'feeling' can mean two things. It can either mean a physical sensation (air on skin), or an emotional reaction (exhilaration). These are
two different things. When someone says they no longer have feelings, it can either mean they no longer experience physical sensations (i.e. they are in a coma, and would actually be quite unlikely to be able to even type that sentence in), or that they no longer experience emotional reactions (i.e. no more exhilaration). In Richard's case, it means the latter - no more emotional reactions - and not the former - no more physical sensations.