PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Via Instapundit, I see this article by Conor Clarke entitled Why Are Women Better Off, But Less Happy?
I have a better question: why is it assumed that everyone should be happy? I'm serious, what about life teaches us that our natural or even preferred state is to be comfortable and happy and healthy? Why this assumption that something is wrong if anyone is unhappy, that we always ought to be happy? Some are even theorizing that shyness or not being perpetually peppy and joyful are mental illnesses. Why this presumption?
I have a better question: why is it assumed that everyone should be happy? I'm serious, what about life teaches us that our natural or even preferred state is to be comfortable and happy and healthy? Why this assumption that something is wrong if anyone is unhappy, that we always ought to be happy? Some are even theorizing that shyness or not being perpetually peppy and joyful are mental illnesses. Why this presumption?
posted by Christopher Taylor at 9:45 AM
2 Comments:
I think happiness can desribe a range of states, from silent-but-satisfied contentment all the way up to rapturous joy. I believe most people naturally and rightfully seek contentment and self-satisfaction (which can often paradoxically be found through self denial, which is a lesson that has to be learned in life). Babies cry when they are hungry because they are seeking a feeling of satisfaction. It is natural for them to do so, and there would be something wrong if they didn't do this. The satisfaction we get from a job-well-done stems from that same sense of righting something that was wrong before, improving our condition, making things better. It is a good and natural thing, and it is why the pursuit of hapiness has long been considered a natural right.
The pursuit of the more emotional state of joy, however, has more to do with personal disposition. Some folks (men and women) are just stoic, and whether that be by nature or nurture, there's nothing inherently wrong with it. But I wouldn't say that makes them unhappy.
I think there's a difference between wanting to avoid pain or discomfort (hunger) and seeking happiness. I don't doubt that everyone wants to be happy, but I question that this is our natural or desired state in a philosophical sense. Clearly we all desire to be happy, but is that best or proper?
Nobody even asks that question, its just presumed that what we want is what we ought to have, or are owed, that we have a right to it. I disagree.
I think your point on the distinction between joy and happiness is a very important one. You can be in a state of contentment without being openly or clearly happy: you might even seem very serious to people around you.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home