A Philosophical Exploration Of Happiness
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Re: A Philosophical Exploration Of Happiness
- Greyhorse541
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Re: A Philosophical Exploration Of Happiness
Sad people (less open face--the expression of surprise--slowness, like slogging through wet cement, and tears and crying) grew up in relative poverty, and are focussed on the basic need for Food & Water resources, instinctively dodging--trying to get out of, or from under, something. This applies to behavior at funerals as well. This is also experienced in a Family environment, or the equivalent.
Indifferent people (comfortably open eyes and closed mouth, mechanical, routine behavior) grew up in stifling conditions--that is, in virtually immobilizing conditions (Japan, for example). As with Happy behavior, the issue is Air--Space, and such people are inclined, instinctively, to hide. This is experienced in a societal environment.
Mad people (to me likely to screw up their faces in a decidedly closed expression--tight-lipped, grim) grew up in hardship, with Food & Water resources stretched to the limit. Fighting is consistent with an "Every man for himself"-mentality.
Now, I realize that this calls into question long-held beliefs about the self or soul, but come on--isn't survival in reality just as much a concern for us as it is for that which we call animals?
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Re: A Philosophical Exploration Of Happiness
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Re: A Philosophical Exploration Of Happiness
I think there's pleasure and elation. I think it all comes from sense experience. The whole spiritual happiness thing is a trap. People wanting spiritual happiness are better off picking up a heroin addiction.
I don't like being depressed and suicidal all day, but at least I'm not happy.
In terms of the source of happiness; first I would redefine happiness as just "avoidance of pain". Then happiness becomes a day in which you've avoided pain.
The whole human condition is one of luxurious boredom. In our endeavor to avoid pain, we have --- modern society. All of our social ailments arise from the things we have enstated that help us avoid the realities of life. The happiest people are those who have toiled all their life and have grown resistant to pain. Happiness is just an immunity to pain. But remove the pain and the immunity disappears too.
Hunger is pain. Finding food is happiness. Eating food is delight. Being full is meaningless - existing with no reason to exist.
Loneliness is pain. Finding someone is happiness. Falling in love is delight. Relationships are torture - existing with no further need to find happiness.
Life is pain. Ending life is happiness. Being dead is delightful. Non-existence is meaningless - ceasing to exist with no further cause to bring about life.
-- Updated October 10th, 2013, 12:47 pm to add the following --
We hurt the ones we love most because they have made our lives unfulfilled. We want to get rid of them so that we can leech happiness out of a different relationship. But we know that we are in love, that it would break our hearts and we would become lonley again if we did.
It's like eating chocolate pie day after day. It ceases to make you happy. And you hate your self and the pie for what you once wanted out of it and yourself. It's addiction. You can't have your cake and eat it too. "When in Rome..."
- Richardhappy
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Re: A Philosophical Exploration Of Happiness
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Re: A Philosophical Exploration Of Happiness
2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023