The Evolution of Feelings - The Structure of the Human Mind and the Nature of Choice

I. Why do humans make judgments based on 'feelings'?

Sometimes we say, 'I didn't do it because I didn't feel good.' This statement lacks logic or calculation. It is simply rooted in an inexplicable intuition, a sensory response from the body, or a judgment derived from vague memories of the past. Humans are beings who think, yet they are also beings who feel. In many cases, we make choices and take actions based not on thought, but on feeling. This article aims to examine 'feeling,' which is central to human mental activity, from scientific, evolutionary, philosophical, and cultural perspectives, in order to explain why and how we behave in such ways.

II. The Structure of the Human Mind: Two Types of Thought Circuits

The human mind operates based on two main circuits of thought. One is sensory-based imagery thought, and the other is symbolic thought mediated by language. Imagery-based thought responds instantaneously through senses and emotions. When witnessing a beautiful landscape, the feeling of breathlessness, the experience of a heart flutter from someone's gaze, and emotional responses such as fear or nostalgia triggered by unfamiliar sounds or smells encapsulate this. These images are generated almost instantaneously by the fusion of the brain's sensory areas and emotional processing circuits. In contrast, symbolic thought conceptualizes, classifies, and explains through language, numbers, and logic. Civilizations such as law, politics, mathematics, and science are products of symbolic thought. This mode of thinking is trained through learning and education, enabling social cooperation and cultural accumulation. Humans are the only species that simultaneously utilize these two circuits of thought. During the day, symbolic thought takes the lead, while at night, imagery thought is activated, manifesting in the form of dreams. Thus, these two thought circuits cooperate and complement each other, forming the complexity of the human mind.

III. The Five Stages of Emotion (Feeling) Structure

Feelings are not merely sensory responses. They are a integrative function of the brain, formed through the interaction of five components. The first is sensory input processing. Various sensory information such as sight, sound, and touch enters the brain and becomes the basis of our feelings. The second is survival response. The instinctive survival circuits trigger reactions such as flinching or avoidance in dangerous situations. The third is bodily feedback. For example, the heart races when experiencing fear, the chest beats faster when feeling love, and the body flinches when feeling disgust. The fourth is the level of consciousness arousal. Reactions to the same stimulus can vary greatly depending on whether one is tired or alert. This is associated with the state of arousal in the cerebral cortex. The fifth is memory. Past similar experiences influence present feelings. The reason we feel a sense of familiarity when seeing a known face, or why we feel apprehensive about a certain person, all stem from the database of previous memories. These five elements operate simultaneously to create the complex mental process known as ‘feeling’.

IV. How does memory feel?

Emotions and memories are inextricably linked. The human memory system is not just a simple data repository. Experiences are temporarily stored in the hippocampus and, during sleep, are transferred to the cerebral cortex, where they are consolidated into long-term memory. This process can be referred to as 'memory migration.' The important thing is that memories operate based on a content-based address system. In other words, memories are grouped together based on similar or identical information, and are only stored when specific stimuli can hang on the hangers of existing memories. Therefore, without prior memories, new information cannot settle. Repeated experiences extract common properties and transform into 'semantic memories.' This is abstracted, verbalized, and organized into concepts. For example, among various types of fruits, the concept of 'apple' stems from the common properties of being 'round, sweet, and having a skin.' Thus, conceptualization occurs through the accumulation and repetition of memories and deeply influences our judgments and choices.

V. Face, Language, Emotion - The Structure of Social Feeling

Humans are social animals. Emotions do not operate in isolation but are more actively expressed within the context of relationships with others. Firstly, the face is a tool for emotional expression and an 'advertising board for information.' A smile, a glance, a frown, and a wary look all convey information more quickly and powerfully than words. In the course of evolution, humans have reduced facial hair and developed facial muscles to more easily perceive the emotions of others. Additionally, language serves not only as a means of conveying information but also as a mediator of emotions. Intonation, speech style, and rhythm can convey entirely different feelings even with the same words. The phrase 'we understand each other' ultimately means 'we feel the same way.' Memories create the depth of emotions. Shared memories allow us to laugh and cry together. This forms the basis of collective emotions and operates as the emotional code that shapes society.

VI. Co-evolution of the Brain and Culture

Humans are not merely evolved animals. Humans are a so-called self-domesticated species. The invention of the water container accelerated human evolution. The loss of body hair enabled long-distance hunting by allowing sweat to be expelled in hot weather, and the prerequisite for this was the cultural technology to store water. A water container is a technology, culture, and survival strategy. Humans are a species that has changed its own physical conditions alongside technology. Furthermore, culture organizes human memory and expands feelings. Language, literature, and art are tools for storing and reproducing feelings. Literature is a record of feelings, art is the visualization of feelings, and language enables collective sharing of feelings. The co-evolution of culture and the brain is referred to as co-evolution, and it continues to this day.

VII. Conclusion: Feelings Determine Destiny

We believe we interpret the world through logic, but in reality, we choose and act based on feelings. Our feelings are not mere instincts. They are the result of intricate brain activity involving senses, memories, emotions, consciousness, culture, and concepts. Feelings attract and repel people, guiding us in choosing our future. We prefer to be around those who resonate positively with us and avoid situations that evoke negative feelings. These feelings stem from our memories, and past experiences shape our intuitive judgments in the present moment. Therefore, if you want to change your destiny, you must change your experiences. You need to see a wider world, meet more diverse people, and engage with richer cultures. Only then will your memories change and the range of your feelings expand. Feelings are not just emotions they are the compass that determines the direction of our lives. They are a legacy created by our memories and senses, and we live our today on that legacy. 'If you want to change your fate, change your memories.' This statement is not merely poetic. It is a neuroscientific, philosophical, and humanistic truth. Ultimately, human choices stem from feelings, and feelings arise from memories. And memories are life itself.