Originally posted by @josephwThere is a case to be made for 'ignorance' being the true path to happiness, if 'wisdom' brings one to the realisation that life is temporal and finite. Better surely to be unaware of this truth and live one's life in blissful ignorance. (Like my cat).
That's the way I read it. Happiness is a consequence of wisdom and understanding applied.
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeEcclesiastes 1:13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!
There is a case to be made for 'ignorance' being the true path to happiness, if 'wisdom' brings one to the realisation that life is temporal and finite. Better surely to be unaware of this truth and live one's life in blissful ignorance. (Like my cat).
Stop agreeing with the Bible!
People will begin to talk.
Originally posted by @whodeyThanks to evolution old chap, people began to talk quite some time ago.
Ecclesiastes 1:13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!
Stop agreeing with the Bible!
People will begin to talk.
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeDo you mean a person can be happy and not even know why?
There is a case to be made for 'ignorance' being the true path to happiness, if 'wisdom' brings one to the realisation that life is temporal and finite. Better surely to be unaware of this truth and live one's life in blissful ignorance. (Like my cat).
Heavily sedated thumb twiddlers.
Originally posted by @josephwOf course.
Do you mean a person can be happy and not even know why?
And some can be unhappy and not know why.
Where do you fit in?
Originally posted by @josephwMy cat is thoroughly content and happy while she washes herself on the windowsill, her belly full of cream. (A feline head void of any knowledge about mortality and suffering).
Do you mean a person can be happy and not even know why?
Heavily sedated thumb twiddlers.
Perhaps happiness is simply to live in the moment with no regret of yesterday or fear of tomorrow...
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeI think you are right.
My cat is thoroughly content and happy while she washes herself on the windowsill, her belly full of cream. (A feline head void of any knowledge about mortality and suffering).
Perhaps happiness is simply to live in the moment with no regret of yesterday or fear of tomorrow...
It is an emotion of the moment.
Happiness is something we have fleetingly through the day if we are lucky or through our lives.
As soon as we start thinking about it, it is gone.
Originally posted by @wolfgang59A moment white, then melts forever😵
I think you are right.
It is an emotion of the moment.
Happiness is something we have fleetingly through the day if we are lucky or through our lives.
As soon as we start thinking about it, it is gone.
Originally posted by @wolfgang59Somewhere between, and I don't know why.
Of course.
And some can be unhappy and not know why.
Where do you fit in?
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeSo, do you think happiness is a state of wellbeing contingent on the absence of thought about current circumstances?
My cat is thoroughly content and happy while she washes herself on the windowsill, her belly full of cream. (A feline head void of any knowledge about mortality and suffering).
Perhaps happiness is simply to live in the moment with no regret of yesterday or fear of tomorrow...
If only we, like our cats, lacked the capacity of reason.
Since man can reason I think we need a reason to be happy.
Originally posted by @josephwYou can't rationalise happiness.
So, do you think happiness is a state of wellbeing contingent on the absence of thought about current circumstances?
If only we, like our cats, lacked the capacity of reason.
Since man can reason I think we need a reason to be happy.
Marx said 'religion' was the opium of the masses, that dulled peoples senses to the hardships of existence. With this in mind, we could just as well replace 'happiness' in your statement for 'religious faith,' giving us:
'Religious faith is a state of wellbeing contingent on the absence of thought about current circumstances.'