Is happiness worth pursueing? : Philosophy Forums

Calendar

Quick Links open

New Posts Member List

Help

Philosophy Forums » Community / Off Topic » Is happiness worth pursueing? » Is happiness worth pursueing?

Is happiness worth pursueing?
need help

Is happiness worth pursueing?

Chenlu Li
Initiate

Usergroup: Members
Joined: May 02, 2008
Total Topics: 1
Total Posts: 2

Posted 05/02/08 - 12:22 AM: Subject: Is happiness worth pursueing?	#1
I never pursued happiness before, though I am not a depressed person or anything. Is happiness worth pursueing? If so, how should I pursue it? By taking heroine? By believing what would make me happy instead of seeking the truth? Happiness doesn't seem to correlate with success or wealth. How does one become happy in general anyways? Does being physically healthy make one generally happier?

Caldwell
Tenured Poster

Usergroup: Moderators
Joined: Apr 18, 2006
Location: Under the banana tree, with Zuleiha.
Total Topics: 1
Total Posts: 1359

Posted 05/02/08 - 01:32 AM:	#2
Yes, happiness is worth pursuing because it affects quality of life. Nobody wants to be in a constant pain and suffering, including loneliness and sadness. How do you pursue it? I believe by start listening to your heart and mind, and stop living your life the way others tell you how to live it. And I suppose there are trade-offs we need to make -- maybe you opt for a less expensive lifestyle, simpler life, and do what you please with the time you have on your hands. And being physically healthy is part of being happy. So, first step, I think, is to love yourself and take good care of it. Change unhealthy habits, and pursue good habits.
_____________________ I achieved nothing. ---The Optimist

unenlightened
The Artistic Donkey

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Aug 10, 2007
Location: Wales
Total Topics: 17
Total Posts: 989

Posted 05/02/08 - 02:07 AM:	#3
If a happy person was to pursue happiness, they would be chasing their own tail. Is it not obvious that pursuit of happiness cannot be a happy state? Pursue something else, and happiness may accompany you, but pursue happiness and it will forever outrun you. Becoming happy means being unhappy. Of course,be healthy if you can, and of course pursue the truth which is the health of the mind Bon voyage.
_____________________ The observer is the observed. J Krishnamurti "Philosophy, to the Philistine, is an evolutionary process, watched over by some sort of brisk dynamic Providence, and culminating in the supreme insight of modern thought." John Cowper Powys

cortes
Tenured Poster

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Sep 25, 2005
Total Topics: 36
Total Posts: 1282

Posted 05/02/08 - 08:38 AM:	#4
This is an important question and there are many opinions on the subject. One mistake that people often make is to assume that happiness is pursued at the expense of success or truth. But in fact all are closely intertwined. There are many ingredients to happiness, many sources of happiness. Successful people tend to be happier than unsuccessful people and happy people tend to be more successful than unhappy people. Similarly for health and integrity. Here are a couple books on the subject: http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Serious-Problem-Nature-Repair/dp/0060987359 http://www.amazon.com/Gross-National-Happiness-Matters-America/dp/0465002781
_____________________ Copyright (c) 2008 Hernan Cortes, Sociedad de los Conquistadores. cortes@conquistador.org http://www.conquistador.org

Chenlu Li
Initiate

Usergroup: Members
Joined: May 02, 2008
Total Topics: 1
Total Posts: 2

Posted 05/02/08 - 02:57 PM:	#5
From what I read on the responses, happiness is worth pursueing, is related to the seeking of truth and success. Also happiness can be only pursued indirectly by purueing success and doing what you want. Maybe I'm wording the question wrongly. Happiness seems to be just how satisfied someone is about their life. Someone can be in pain, but still say that they are satisfied in life. Is pleasure worth pursueing? Or like drugs, will you get used to the elevated pleasure eventually, and be in pain if the elevated pleasure is not there? For example, I can start a harem of cute girls, but I talked to a dating coach, and he told me that eventually, he got used to being able to have sex with multiple girls, and he doesn't think of it as a big deal anymore. Are you really a philosophy professor, cortes? What university you teach in?

Thoughtless
Professor

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Jul 12, 2005
Total Topics: 24
Total Posts: 636

Posted 05/02/08 - 03:21 PM:	#6
Is happiness worth pursuing? That sounds almost tautological.
_____________________ You down with OPP(Original Poster's Prerogative)?

cortes
Tenured Poster

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Sep 25, 2005
Total Topics: 36
Total Posts: 1282

Posted 05/02/08 - 03:59 PM:	#7
Thoughtless wrote: Is happiness worth pursuing? That sounds almost tautological. Is honesty worth faking? Is liberty worth requiring?
_____________________ Copyright (c) 2008 Hernan Cortes, Sociedad de los Conquistadores. cortes@conquistador.org http://www.conquistador.org

cortes
Tenured Poster

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Sep 25, 2005
Total Topics: 36
Total Posts: 1282

Posted 05/02/08 - 04:17 PM:	#8
Chenlu Li wrote: Happiness seems to be just how satisfied someone is about their life. Someone can be in pain, but still say that they are satisfied in life. Is pleasure worth pursueing? Or like drugs, will you get used to the elevated pleasure eventually, and be in pain if the elevated pleasure is not there? For example, I can start a harem of cute girls, but I talked to a dating coach, and he told me that eventually, he got used to being able to have sex with multiple girls, and he doesn't think of it as a big deal anymore. I think if you want to hone the question you should ask: what is the place of pleasure in the subject of happiness. There is a well-known phenomenon of adjusting to circumstances not to mention the fact that we get bored with the same old thing. And people often are mistaken about what will make them happy, even what will please them. (Many times I think I would enjoy a particular desert but then find the actual experience a disappointment.) Also, you have to take into account variation across individuals. DIffereng people find pleasure and happiness in different things. It's a complex subject. Chenlu Li wrote: Are you really a philosophy professor, cortes? What university you teach in? Far from it! I just dabble in philosophy. But I am working on my own philosophical theory.
_____________________ Copyright (c) 2008 Hernan Cortes, Sociedad de los Conquistadores. cortes@conquistador.org http://www.conquistador.org

essary1
Initiate

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Jan 03, 2008
Total Topics: 3
Total Posts: 8

Posted 05/28/08 - 11:37 PM: Subject: NO MORE READING	#9
Thoughtless wrote: Is happiness worth pursuing? That sounds almost tautological. your awesome

electricfeel
Electric Magnetic

Usergroup: Members
Joined: May 30, 2008
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Total Topics: 1
Total Posts: 7

Posted 05/31/08 - 03:29 AM:	#10
This very topic was raised at philosophy discussion this week at the School of Philosophy I attend. A valid point was made by a lady at the discussion - the pursuit of happiness is just that, a pursuit. Happiness can only be found now - to be happy you have to want and expect to be happy despite your circumstances. If you are pursuing happiness you will perpetually be doing so and in such you will never experience true happiness. I'd say a more worthwhile excercise would be eliminating suffering from your life as this will create contentment, satisfaction and true 'happiness'. And on the heroine comment - drugs are a very temporary shortcut to experiencing altered states of perception that can often be happiness. However these shortcuts always operate temporarily and to get lasting happiness you must go down a longer path. I do not use drugs frequently but I do not believe they are inherently bag just because they are illegal. Look at Ram Dass/Richard Alpert and his experience. He did LSD 100s of times and believes it helped him to reach a much happier existence even after decades of reflection on this. When you are happy you will truly know this. It will not be a tag you put onto your ego or a question in your mind or an insecurity. During my life I have small spouts of true happiness which is great!!
_____________________ Electric Magnetic - Thoughts, observations, reflections on modern global society and lifestyle.

electricfeel
Electric Magnetic

Usergroup: Members
Joined: May 30, 2008
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Total Topics: 1
Total Posts: 7

Posted 05/31/08 - 03:37 AM:	#11
also - fail to see how this is off-topic?
_____________________ Electric Magnetic - Thoughts, observations, reflections on modern global society and lifestyle.

You don't have permission to post.

Please login or register.