User blog comment:Commdor/Questions for Mass Effect 3/@comment-3053284-20101214161804/@comment-737801-20101214181613

Considering the salarians, according to Mordin, were capable of running very advanced simulations when they were working on the Genophage Modification Project. So I think the Reapers are probably capable of much, much more when it comes to simulations. As to emotion, maybe. We've seen in plenty of other scifi where machines are capable of processing emotions, or a very good simulation of them. If the Reapers are operating on emotion, it very well may be revenge. However it could be many other things. We have seen in history that humans are capable of extremely rapid progress. Sometimes with questionable intentions, but sometimes very rapid growth. See the industrial revolution for one, very clear, example.