Mark NyquistDecember 15, 2022 at 23:06#7642650 likes
I cycle,
I'm happy, then people annoy me and I get cranky, then they leave me alone and I'm happy. Sometimes I just need to find solutions involving others and can't worry too much about happy.
Not happy all the time but when nothing is too bad I'm happy.
Andrew4HandelDecember 16, 2022 at 00:03#7642720 likes
I am the happiest I have been as an adult.
Metaphysician UndercoverDecember 16, 2022 at 00:39#7642740 likes
Happy! When I'm reading The Philosophy Forums I'm happy. Enough said!
I'm surprised no one asked "What do you mean by happiness?" So I'll ask it of all of you who so far responded. If it a feeling, like joy and pleasure, or something else?
Andrew4HandelDecember 16, 2022 at 02:20#7642920 likes
Its hard to define but maybe an absence of sadness and a level of contentment.
The absence of sadness is pleasurable in itself.
Metaphysician UndercoverDecember 16, 2022 at 02:22#7642930 likes
Reply to Mikie Definitely a feeling for me. I feel happy. I would also say that there is a deeper state, a disposition, or something like that, which often allows me to overcome the inclination toward negative feelings and maintain, or restore happiness, like tuning in to TPF for example as a diversion. Diversions are very useful.
There was a time when I didn't know what it was. I remember one guy told me that a baby is born with his fists clenched tight, but an old man dies with his hands open. I thought that sounded great, but it was meaningless.
I'm surprised no one asked "What do you mean by happiness?" So I'll ask it of all of you who so far responded.
General satisfaction with one's life, work, environment and relationships. I'm unhappy about the world at large, anxious about old age and physical frailty, frustrated at what I can't do anymore and disgruntled at the aches and pains. But I have a safe place to sleep, a solid marriage; we can still talk, laugh and enjoy things together; we have a comfortable enough home in beautiful countryside; we have enough material wealth for our needs, and we keep our minds and hands busy.
tomatohorseDecember 16, 2022 at 03:27#7643050 likes
Yes, I'd say so. I am generally speaking able to do the things I want, so that is a source of happiness.
magictriangleDecember 16, 2022 at 04:10#7643120 likes
I sometimes believe my life satisfaction rating has gone up, so I am going to say that I am pretty happy. The sources of my life's upward arch have been seeking medical treatment, not falling into debt, and not delving into romantic relationships. Sometimes as I am contemplating this question, I think that I am rather bleek on my outlook. It could seem like my satisfaction with my life is stagnant or worsening, but overall I am beginning to have the 'I am complete now' outlook.
I'm surprised no one asked "What do you mean by happiness?" So I'll ask it of all of you who so far responded. If it a feeling, like joy and pleasure, or something else?
I think it's complicated, and somewhat relative. There's enough overlap between people who seem happy and what they say about it that there's something worthwhile in thinking about it. But I'm not sure the path after meaning would help as much as hinder -- I basically know what happiness is, even if it's not just joy or even if it doesn't follow a particular regimen prescribed for happiness. So I said "Yup"
But perhaps "Happy" isn't the exact term I'd use depending on what you mean by it.
For me "content" is a better one because for me:. "Happy" is a brief temporary emotion. Situational and transient.
"Contentment" on the other hand is a long standing general positive mood, sense of well-being, peace and resilience.
I say resilience because bad shit happens regularly, and you may feel temporarily frustrated, unsettled or upset. That doesn't mean you aren't generally content. As "unhappy" is also a short term brief emotion.
Sad to happy is as contentment is to depression/hopelessness.
If happiness is a good, or the good, then what is it? If its living in accord with our nature, then what is our nature?
The function of an axe is to cut. To be a "good" axe is to cut well. I think Aristotle would say that the soul or nature of a human is thinking, what normally gets translated as "reason."
So to be happy, we should live in accordance with our function -- with reason; with the goals that one decides on; with virtue.
I've always liked that picture.
Happiness, then, has nothing to do with feelings of pleasure or joy, or a good time. It's a life-long pursuit, and we can't determine whether one has lived a happy life until it's completed.
I like that formulation too. Nietzsche's isn't bad either, really.
Anyway, this was my plan for this thread. Didn't quite go as I expected. Oh well! I moved it to the lounge, so feel free to continue posting whatever you'd like.
Happiness, then, has nothing to do with feelings of pleasure or joy, or a good time. It's a life-long pursuit, and we can't determine whether one has lived a happy life until it's completed.
You should have started with the ending post. :)
There is something to the notion that happiness is not ephemeral. Happiness is achieved through the day-to-day, not within a single day. I can have a bad day and continue to be happy. I can feel sad about a particular thing and still continue to be happy.
However, I think I'd say that a notion of happiness that requires us to live the entirety of life isn't very useful for those of us who want to be happy. We're not going to be around at the end of it all to make a judgment -- that would be a judgment for the historians or philosophers.
Feelings, I think, are an important part of happiness, though, while pleasure isn't simple. "Joy" I think gets much closer to happiness than our lexical "pleasure" or "good time". The pleasure of happiness is consistent between various pleasures and pains -- it's more of an overall satisfaction with the way things are for oneself than immediate pleasure and pain. And satisfaction is at least partially dependent upon what a person wants.
So if you want something aside from basic pleasures and pains -- say, goodness, or justice, or power -- and you don't have those things, you will be unhappy. Even if your basic needs are met your mind will gravitate towards the things you want and the opposite of happiness will occur. It's not exactly displeasure, but frustration.
Reply to Mikie Oh I wouldn't be that harsh on yourself. I was saying, here's the OP! You got there! I found something I could say and respond to in it, at least.
I am not usually happy in summertime. I don't like this season. It is full of days with high temperatures and sweating is disgusting. But June is being acceptable this year. We have been having 'summer storms' since this past Monday in Madrid.
Yet I am still negative towards summer. July and August will be like a boiled pot...
Reply to Mikie 'Happiness', I think (ime), corresponds to freedom from fear and pain. Sometimes I'm happy; most of the time, however, I'm striving to be (briefly) happy again.
I'm happy when I pay attention and make the effort to be happy. Most of the time that means striving to be a better man. For instance, it means not being snappy when I'm tired and then I get all the warmth and attention from the kids to last me a life time.
So to be happy, we should live in accordance with our function -- with reason; with the goals that one decides on; with virtue.
Do you truly believe we all have a 'function'? In what context? To what end? An axe is designed by a human tool-maker for the purpose of cutting wood, as the human requires wood. So the function of a human must be determined by an intelligent designer for that designer's own requirement. Quoting Mikie
Happiness, then, has nothing to do with feelings of pleasure or joy, or a good time. It's a life-long pursuit, and we can't determine whether one has lived a happy life until it's completed.
I don't at all like being nothing more than a tool that is judged good or bad according to some god's whim, once I'm dead.
I'm far, far happier with a notion of a good life centered on my own proclivities, needs, abilities and desires. After all, it's my life, not Allah's or Jesus's or Aristotle's. I'm the only one qualified to judge whether it's been painless (9 out of 10) successful (7), useful (8) virtuous (7) enjoyable (6) and fulfilling (8). On the whole, I've reached this point where there is not much left to fear except the last slide down. There is a freedom in that that can be added to the overall life satisfaction.
'Happiness', I think (ime), corresponds to freedom from fear and pain. Sometimes I'm happy; most of the time, however, I'm striving to be (briefly) happy again.
That's good. I was going to say something similar about happiness being free of stress and anxiety (pain?). I wonder if we sometimes confuse happiness with joy - which is a great, big electrical experience and this I also feel quite regularly. Happiness seems to be a by-product of other things and not an end goal of its own.
Happiness is a distillation: freedom from pain and stress, with regular infusions of satisfaction, comfort, companionship, love, plus the odd unexpected shot of exuberance, hilarity, joy, awe, wonder and even, if you're very, very lucky, ecstasy.
I wonder if we sometimes confuse happiness with joy
I think so. I often experience joy listening to music, reading, creating, orgasming, helping someone in non-trivial ways and from long vigor walks/hikes even when I'm not happy. Quoting Vera Mont
ecstasy
Yes, sobriety's ego-suspending flow state that's sometimes joyful too.
Comments (42)
I'm happy, then people annoy me and I get cranky, then they leave me alone and I'm happy. Sometimes I just need to find solutions involving others and can't worry too much about happy.
Not happy all the time but when nothing is too bad I'm happy.
Whatever may be going on out there, my personal life is good.
Fill your cup and join the brigade of happiness. Its a joyful time of year.
I'm surprised no one asked "What do you mean by happiness?" So I'll ask it of all of you who so far responded. If it a feeling, like joy and pleasure, or something else?
Its hard to define but maybe an absence of sadness and a level of contentment.
The absence of sadness is pleasurable in itself.
General satisfaction with one's life, work, environment and relationships. I'm unhappy about the world at large, anxious about old age and physical frailty, frustrated at what I can't do anymore and disgruntled at the aches and pains. But I have a safe place to sleep, a solid marriage; we can still talk, laugh and enjoy things together; we have a comfortable enough home in beautiful countryside; we have enough material wealth for our needs, and we keep our minds and hands busy.
Ineffable. See the appropriate thread for an explanation.
I think it's complicated, and somewhat relative. There's enough overlap between people who seem happy and what they say about it that there's something worthwhile in thinking about it. But I'm not sure the path after meaning would help as much as hinder -- I basically know what happiness is, even if it's not just joy or even if it doesn't follow a particular regimen prescribed for happiness. So I said "Yup"
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1613092/
Good documentary.
But perhaps "Happy" isn't the exact term I'd use depending on what you mean by it.
For me "content" is a better one because for me:. "Happy" is a brief temporary emotion. Situational and transient.
"Contentment" on the other hand is a long standing general positive mood, sense of well-being, peace and resilience.
I say resilience because bad shit happens regularly, and you may feel temporarily frustrated, unsettled or upset. That doesn't mean you aren't generally content. As "unhappy" is also a short term brief emotion.
Sad to happy is as contentment is to depression/hopelessness.
Its a matter of duration.
Haha fair enough. And long may it last :) Health and staying active/able is everything really at the end of the day.
Chronic pain I think is perhaps the most debilitating thing, a lot else is tolerable but pain is a toughy.
I am happy. I am either at peace or resigned to the inevitable. I don't let doomsday bother me; do you let it bother you?
The drummer in Elvis Perkins' band makes me happy,
The function of an axe is to cut. To be a "good" axe is to cut well. I think Aristotle would say that the soul or nature of a human is thinking, what normally gets translated as "reason."
So to be happy, we should live in accordance with our function -- with reason; with the goals that one decides on; with virtue.
I've always liked that picture.
Happiness, then, has nothing to do with feelings of pleasure or joy, or a good time. It's a life-long pursuit, and we can't determine whether one has lived a happy life until it's completed.
I like that formulation too. Nietzsche's isn't bad either, really.
Anyway, this was my plan for this thread. Didn't quite go as I expected. Oh well! I moved it to the lounge, so feel free to continue posting whatever you'd like.
You should have started with the ending post. :)
There is something to the notion that happiness is not ephemeral. Happiness is achieved through the day-to-day, not within a single day. I can have a bad day and continue to be happy. I can feel sad about a particular thing and still continue to be happy.
However, I think I'd say that a notion of happiness that requires us to live the entirety of life isn't very useful for those of us who want to be happy. We're not going to be around at the end of it all to make a judgment -- that would be a judgment for the historians or philosophers.
Feelings, I think, are an important part of happiness, though, while pleasure isn't simple. "Joy" I think gets much closer to happiness than our lexical "pleasure" or "good time". The pleasure of happiness is consistent between various pleasures and pains -- it's more of an overall satisfaction with the way things are for oneself than immediate pleasure and pain. And satisfaction is at least partially dependent upon what a person wants.
So if you want something aside from basic pleasures and pains -- say, goodness, or justice, or power -- and you don't have those things, you will be unhappy. Even if your basic needs are met your mind will gravitate towards the things you want and the opposite of happiness will occur. It's not exactly displeasure, but frustration.
I know. It made sense when I startedΒ I had it all planned out. I botched it.
Yet I am still negative towards summer. July and August will be like a boiled pot...
:death: :flower:
Do you truly believe we all have a 'function'? In what context? To what end? An axe is designed by a human tool-maker for the purpose of cutting wood, as the human requires wood. So the function of a human must be determined by an intelligent designer for that designer's own requirement.
Quoting Mikie
I don't at all like being nothing more than a tool that is judged good or bad according to some god's whim, once I'm dead.
I'm far, far happier with a notion of a good life centered on my own proclivities, needs, abilities and desires. After all, it's my life, not Allah's or Jesus's or Aristotle's. I'm the only one qualified to judge whether it's been painless (9 out of 10) successful (7), useful (8) virtuous (7) enjoyable (6) and fulfilling (8). On the whole, I've reached this point where there is not much left to fear except the last slide down. There is a freedom in that that can be added to the overall life satisfaction.
That's good. I was going to say something similar about happiness being free of stress and anxiety (pain?). I wonder if we sometimes confuse happiness with joy - which is a great, big electrical experience and this I also feel quite regularly. Happiness seems to be a by-product of other things and not an end goal of its own.
I think so. I often experience joy listening to music, reading, creating, orgasming, helping someone in non-trivial ways and from long vigor walks/hikes even when I'm not happy.
Quoting Vera Mont
Yes, sobriety's ego-suspending flow state that's sometimes joyful too.