Comments on: Happiness is… http://blog.osirra.com/2010/03/07/happiness-is%e2%80%a6/ Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:35:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Art Vandelay http://blog.osirra.com/2010/03/07/happiness-is%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-4485 Art Vandelay Sat, 01 May 2010 08:11:43 +0000 http://blog.osirra.com/?p=3395#comment-4485 what utter nonsense Daniel! what utter nonsense Daniel!

]]> By: slatfatf http://blog.osirra.com/2010/03/07/happiness-is%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-4439 slatfatf Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:34:14 +0000 http://blog.osirra.com/?p=3395#comment-4439 One of the most difficult subjects around. So is happiness what you feel as a result of that balance. Assuming you want happiness, why? If you desire a state of happiness why should the mechanism to reach that state be something good? And that's why it is tricky. You associate only 'good' with happiness and nothing else. Maybe I could be happy by not having that balance. I could be happy by killing people over 50! Are you saying that everyone will feel happy if achieving this balance? Why? What justification do you have for such a claim? So happiness is objective then? Same for everyone irrespective of culture etc. If it is objective where is 'it' what entity is out there, what framework in nature defines this objective 'happiness'? Can dogs be happy? What about children? Well proven that young children will look out for themselves and this is evolutionary (a fight for survival) sharing etc is learned later. But children can be happy surely? Your happiness is akin to virtue ethics. I support that view. Also, read (if you have time) Plato's Republic where he outlines (using a fantasy republic) how the balance between will and spirit and reason create a balance and a happy life. I think a better definition of happiness is the fulfillment of ones desires. It matters not what one's desires are and they will vary from person to person and culture to culture. But the fulfillment of desires is what will make one happy. One of the most difficult subjects around. So is happiness what you feel as a result of that balance. Assuming you want happiness, why? If you desire a state of happiness why should the mechanism to reach that state be something good? And that’s why it is tricky. You associate only ‘good’ with happiness and nothing else. Maybe I could be happy by not having that balance. I could be happy by killing people over 50! Are you saying that everyone will feel happy if achieving this balance? Why? What justification do you have for such a claim? So happiness is objective then? Same for everyone irrespective of culture etc. If it is objective where is ‘it’ what entity is out there, what framework in nature defines this objective ‘happiness’? Can dogs be happy? What about children? Well proven that young children will look out for themselves and this is evolutionary (a fight for survival) sharing etc is learned later. But children can be happy surely?

Your happiness is akin to virtue ethics. I support that view. Also, read (if you have time) Plato’s Republic where he outlines (using a fantasy republic) how the balance between will and spirit and reason create a balance and a happy life.

I think a better definition of happiness is the fulfillment of ones desires. It matters not what one’s desires are and they will vary from person to person and culture to culture. But the fulfillment of desires is what will make one happy.

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