Happiness (2 Viewers)

[Iron]

Seriously Lentern, you need to be more humble and discerning. I'm v tired of looking at you awkwardly trying to immulate some pompous father figure in your life

U know shit imo

 

[zstar]

Here are a series of questions about happiness. Answer them, and all will be well:

-Should the government design policy in the pursuit of higher levels of social happiness?
-If people are making decisions for themselves that, on average, will result in suboptimal levels of happiness, should the government intervene?
-Is happiness the only intrinsically valuable good?
-Is happiness an emotional state, a deliberative judgement about the state of one's life, a combination of both, or other.
-If it turned out that religious belief was positively correlated with happiness, would you become religious?

Now go!

- They can make me happier by staying out of my life preferebly completely.
- That's like ruining a perfectly good porsche because you wanted decorations.
- Cumming is pretty valuable and it leads to hapiness.
- It's something that leads us to feel positive.
- Whatever floats your boat. Some people find weed makes them happy so that must be good then.

 

[jb_nc]

-If it turned out that religious belief was positively correlated with happiness, would you become religious?

Volatire: Story of a Good Brahmin

EDIT: Assuming you've read that SP, but for everyone else.

 

[whatashotbyseve]

Here are a series of questions about happiness. Answer them, and all will be well:

-Should the government design policy in the pursuit of higher levels of social happiness?
-If people are making decisions for themselves that, on average, will result in suboptimal levels of happiness, should the government intervene?
-Is happiness the only intrinsically valuable good?
-Is happiness an emotional state, a deliberative judgement about the state of one's life, a combination of both, or other.
-If it turned out that religious belief was positively correlated with happiness, would you become religious?

1. Not per se. Social happiness is a construct of your well being. No government intervention can make you feel happy, unless you want to spend your $900 on a hooker.
2. Such as getting themselves into debt that they cannot afford? You make your own luck in this world. The government should not have to bail you out to alleviate the financial/insert situation here depression you put yourself into.
3. This really depends on a person's view of happiness. A person may be content, but not happy.
4. An emotional state. Being content would be a deliberate judgement. As I said in the previous question, a content person may not be happy. If you are ambitious, are you ever really happy until you reach a pinnacle that is never set in concrete?
5. I am atheist, but I can understand religion and happiness. I imagine religion as a pray for transcendence to a utopian, and thus happier, world. However, no religion can guarantee happiness, only hope at best, and I would never become religious for that sole reason (although Hillsong seem to be good at brainwashing the concept of 'happy' religion in our age group).

 

[Lentern]

A violation of freedom perhaps, but it isn't really a bailout if the government basicaly tells you what you can do with your life which I think is more what the question suggests. You're answering as if it says "can the government take your assetts and give it to someone else because something went wrong for them".

 

[whatashotbyseve]

If the question suggests that, then I still suggest the same answer. If people are making decisions that cause sub-optimal happiness for themselves then they only have themselves to blame. People have the right to live their life however they want. Make the most of it.

Back onto my line of reasoning, we are too much of a welfare state. Socialist government intervention along these lines does not make a recipient happier imo.

 

[Graney]

Du you truly believe that one life is as good as another Graney?

Yes

Testing shows that beyond a basic level of needs being met, anything you do or own makes almost no difference to overall levels of happiness.

 

[tycho]

Yes

Testing shows that beyond a basic level of needs being met, anything you do or own makes almost no difference to overall levels of happiness.

Source please? Sounds interesting.

 

[Graney]

Princeton University - Link between income and happiness is mainly an illusion

happiness wealth study - Google Search

It's a pretty common theme in philosophy, and it's now backed up with science.

 

[Silver Persian]

So because income doesn't significantly change happiness levels after a certain point, nothing does? :<

 

[Silver Persian]

Volatire: Story of a Good Brahmin

EDIT: Assuming you've read that SP, but for everyone else.

I haven't actually read that one, thanks! It reminds me a little of a movie called Flowers for Algernon (and also Nozick's experience machine).

I'm not sure what my position on the possible inverse correlation between knowledge and happiness is. Maybe being knowledgeable is good in and of itself - rather than being merely a means to the end of happiness.

 

[Graney]

Well those basic needs include having some friends, a sense of purpose, time for rest, food, a safe home etc...

Those things make a difference. To a basic degree. Although 40 friends won't necessarily make you happier than 10 friends, heaps of gourmet food won't make you happier than having enough basic food etc...

 

[Riet]

Happiness seems to be loneliness
And loneliness chilled my world
How could you guess, when you're only thinking of yourself
How you looked to other girls

 

[whatashotbyseve]

Well those basic needs include having some friends, a sense of purpose, time for rest, food, a safe home etc...

Those things make a difference. To a basic degree. Although 40 friends won't necessarily make you happier than 10 friends, heaps of gourmet food won't make you happier than having enough basic food etc...

So Maslow's hierarchy of needs was actually used for something?

 

[Silver Persian]

Well those basic needs include having some friends, a sense of purpose, time for rest, food, a safe home etc...

Those things make a difference. To a basic degree. Although 40 friends won't necessarily make you happier than 10 friends, heaps of gourmet food won't make you happier than having enough basic food etc...

Hmmm...well a lot of people don't have those things, and aren't necessarily capable of getting them themselves.

Is it possible/desirable for the state to intervene to help people obtain them? (What good is freedom if it isn't making you happy?)

 

[Iron]

Juvenal once said that "[t]he people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things - bread and circuses”.

Rome is burning

 

[Silver Persian]

Juvenal once said that "[t]he people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things - bread and circuses”.

Rome is burning

You yourself said that happiness is a good thing and should be pursued.

Discussing the pursuit of happiness it not mutually exclusive with the proper consideration of economics, politics, ethics and society.

 

[Graney]

Hmmm...well a lot of people don't have those things, and aren't necessarily capable of getting them themselves.

Obvs. This is the tragedy of human existence.

Is it possible/desirable for the state to intervene to help people obtain them? (What good is freedom if it isn't making you happy?)

It's undesirable, but it may be essential in some situations. If not the state, at the least someone in the community must intervene to limit individuals actions. I don't see much difference between essential state intervention, and essential community intervention. The state is probably safer and more reliable, if often a bit overreaching.

 

[Iron]

I take it all back. Happiness is best avoided in all circumstances, lest the peolpe become giddy and uncontrollable.
Your happiness, SP, should be especially avoided.

Church and state should conspire to firmly slap their unstable constituents out of their wretched state of self-love

 

[Graney]

When I attack freedom, I am of course referring to causing harm against others, protecting the vulnerable.

The state is a terrible judge of what risks others should be entitled to take and when, and how that might affect their happiness in any respect.