The Philosophy Thread

BodyButter

BodyButter

Vital Football Legend
I'm pondering over the great irony of happiness. We all know what happiness is but even describing it is a difficult task, let alone achieving it. We spend our days toiling away in search of happiness.

If I just achieve this, then I'll be happy. If I can just buy that, then I'll be happy.

Of course, it is but a fleeting emotion and the thorn on the rose is that expecting to be happy only brings misery.
 
I do think people have the wrong idea of what happiness is. As you suggest above, a lot think it is the pursuit of material possessions. Not saying they aren't nice, I'm loving my car massively for instance.

But people miss the real joys in the world. That 'moment' with a special one, good health, good health and certainly good health.

Health is the gift not all are afforded, those who are often take it for granted and abuse it to the point of it leaving them. THEN they see what happiness was!
 
In all seriousness though, people confuse happines with pleasure. It is possible to expeience a lot a pleasure and never really be happy, at the same time, it is possible to be happy whilst being in a state of discomfort. Most people find happiness in relationships and other, non-intrinsic things. As Fear implies, happiness is related to joy but I'd say that there are other components, peace, pride (in others or in specific achievements), love, the act of giving (and for some, recieving), acceptance (of circumstances), helping/serving others. I'm sure there are other elements, the point being, it's generally our state of mind and interaction with others that provides happiness and these things can't be bought, pleasure can.

This sounds like I have a downer on pleasure, I certainly don't have and believe that it can (but does not necessarily) contribute towards happiness. When I look back, some of the very best times have been when I've been on trips and shared experiences with people, had I not been able to buy the trips, we would never have had the experiences and, ultimately, the only thing that will always stay with us are our experiences or rather the person we become as a result of our experineces. These experiences must have value to us to give us that feelng of happiness we seek, some will cost us something, others will cost us nothing and others may even help us financially, so wealth can certainly be a contributory factor but it is far from decisive and ultimately we associate the path to pleasure being a sufficient level of wealth. Of course, wealth can give us security, which is certainly a contributory factor to happiness but again, there are many example opf wealthy people being unhappy.

 
"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that elusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."

Thomas S Monson
 
That's a a very depressing view of things SJH, would I be right in assuming that you are not a parent? I have had much joy and happiness because of my children, yet my life still has anxiety. Happiness is not a constant state either, nor should it be, how else would one appreciate the good times if one had no comparison?

 
I'd say that the absence of anxiety is serenity. I often find I get worked up about the usual stuff (work mostly) and it takes me a while to realise that all things are as they should be and to stop fighting it so much.

As for materialism, I was pretty young when I discovered the futility of it. When I was 14, I got a job in pub washing glasses and cleaning ashtrays. It totally sucked. I saved my money and spent it all on a pair of Converse trainers that I thought were cool. It totally wasn't worth it.

The only things that I've bought in the past ten years that have made me happy are a cool Bluetooth speaker and my pick-up truck. The pick-up truck allows me to get really deep into the jungle and I've made some great friends from going offroad/camping.
 
Villan Of The North - 28/11/2017 12:42

That's a a very depressing view of things SJH, would I be right in assuming that you are not a parent? I have had much joy and happiness because of my children, yet my life still has anxiety. Happiness is not a constant state either, nor should it be, how else would one appreciate the good times if one had no comparison?
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You think VOTN? Depressing?

I'm not sure what having children or not has anything to do with it. Joy and happiness are subjective. Your right, happiness (whatever that is) is not a constant state, that would be impossible. I don't agree we need misery in our lives to appreciate the good times but that's unavoidable.

I think BB put it better, the absence of anxiety is serenity. Anything after that is a bonus.

 
It totally depends on your circumstances but in the right circumstances, having kids is a blessing. It really is. I'd give up my truck in a heartbeat for my kids.
 
“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.
Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. …
“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
“The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

Jenkin Lloyd Jones
 
Personally I'm a fan of the Descarsian school of thought, we are no more or less than our experiences and without our experiences we are nothing. Therefore it is natural to conclude that all our experiences are for our bennefit and as such our happiness is a choice, we choose how we relate to our experiences, possitive and negative alike. This, of course, is a rather more complicated concept when mental illness entres the picture, people with compulsions, chemical imbalances in the brain and other mental issues are not so free to choose their relationship to their experiences and feelings.


 
BodyButter - 28/11/2017 08:14

We spend our days toiling away in search of happiness.
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No we don't. I don't anyway. I go to work.

That's not searching for happiness, thats making sure the bills are paid, kids are fed and my small part is done that day to contribute to the running of our society.

We are not searching for happiness at all. Yes occasionally we do things we think will make us happy for a fleeting moment but societies do not work by its subsequent parts doing what they like to make themselves happy.

As the saying goes 'no man is an island', with that goes responsibility and a comprimise that my ability to be able to do as I wish is limited for the greater good of society.

We are not searching for happiness. We're looking for contentment.
 
lewis1980 - 29/11/2017 19:09

BodyButter - 28/11/2017 08:14

We spend our days toiling away in search of happiness.
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No we don't. I don't anyway. I go to work.

That's not searching for happiness, thats making sure the bills are paid, kids are fed and my small part is done that day to contribute to the running of our society.

We are not searching for happiness at all. Yes occasionally we do things we think will make us happy for a fleeting moment but societies do not work by its subsequent parts doing what they like to make themselves happy.

As the saying goes 'no man is an island', with that goes responsibility and a comprimise that my ability to be able to do as I wish is limited for the greater good of society.

We are not searching for happiness. We're looking for contentment.
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Interesting stuff, Lewis. If you don't mind me asking, what do you do?

Even defining happiness is difficult. Contentment is certainly a more achievable goal. Unfortunately, I don't seem to do contentment very well. I reached a massive milestone in my business this year but it just sets me up to try to achieve more next year. I don't think it's healthy or particularly positive but that's me.
 
BodyButter - 28/11/2017 13:56

. I'd give up my truck in a heartbeat for my kids.
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Blimey mate. That's a bloody nice pick up truck you are talking about.
 
The Fear - 29/11/2017 23:23

BodyButter - 28/11/2017 13:56

. I'd give up my truck in a heartbeat for my kids.
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Blimey mate. That's a bloody nice pick up truck you are talking about.
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Yeah, man. You should see it bursting through the mud. :159: :183: :156:
 
One of the keys to happiness, I think, is not to miss the moments in a day. Too many focus on all the crap, if you miss the good moment you are done for. It's the old saying, don't forget to smell the roses. It's partly what my book (!) is about.

If you don't look for the good, you'll be hard pressed to find true happiness wouldn't you?

(and LOL BB)
 
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