How does happiness benefit society? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Why is being happy better than being merely content? Over the last few weeks, I've struggled to find any benefit in happiness.

condor wrote:

Why is being happy better than being merely content? Over the last few weeks, I've struggled to find any benefit in happiness....

To expound, I don't feel any more productive, any more energised, or any more empathic.

You put forth a rather ambiguous proposition. What exactly do you mean by "content"? Are you merely resigned to your lot in life? If you don't feel any more productive, energized or empathic, are you not happy? If, as you say, you've struggled to find any benefit in happiness, how then can you be happy? If you don't find joy in life, you must be miserable. Either that, or your entire line of thought is simply inane.

Happiness has proven, substantial health benefits; whereas unhappiness has an entirely negative effect on health, both physiologically and mentally. From a productivity point of view, there is a decided improvement in production when one is happy, as countless studies have shown. Miserable people make miserable workers, and a miserable environment makes for an unproductive environment.

Again, your proposition is rather nonsensical, unless of course you are a nihilist, in which case your entire discussion is meaningless.

Edited by The Dark Elf - November 03 2017 at 21:38

...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...

Happiness isn't important until you're quite unhappy. So when some joy finds its way into your life, whether a thing or person or project or passion, it's then that you appreciate the short-lived feeling of happiness.

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy

condor wrote:

Why is nihilism meaningless. Happiness isn't a physical dimension.

People aren't only moral or immoral, they can be amoral. Same with happiness. Just because something doesn't have a name, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I think you're confusing hope with happiness.

No, I'm quite sure I'm not confusing hope with happiness.

It would seem, rather, you do not know the meaning of happiness. Otherwise, you wouldn't be questioning whether there is a benefit to it. There is nothing noble or meaningful in being miserable.

condor wrote:

Content means I don't have to finish everything I start, I don't have to have adrenalin flowing, I can settle for achieving 98% of my potential. I don't need the compulsion to excel, without feeling empty.

I fail to see how that has anything to do with happiness; unless, of course, leaving things unfinished and doing things half-ass makes you happy. It doesn't sound like it to me. Rather, it's seems like you've acquiesced to your half-assedness and made yourself believe that it is okay.

Edited by The Dark Elf - November 03 2017 at 22:20

...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...

Living life without happiness is like you're on a boat in de middle of the ocean and you decide not to raise the sails but to just drift around eternally hoping not to hit the scary shore

If I was happy I'd be less likely to stab some f**ker.

Soldato of the Pan Head Mafia. We'll make you an offer you can't listen to.
Bandcamp Profile

OK.

I'd argue happiness is actually detrimental to society. If we consider how f**ked up the world we live in is, happiness only favours the status quo. Happy people most likely won't try to take actions to change a system that's flawed as they're comfortable in their happiness. They won't try to improve their situation or that of others or even of the Earth. Of course it's not always as simple as that but I think the generalization in this context is relevant. Only if we lived in some kind of idyllic world would happiness be beneficial not only to the individual but to society as a whole.

I'd also like to mention that for me happiness is a fleeting emotion which is nothing more than pleasant. I found that there are much more powerful, "fulfilling" and "important" emotions than mere happiness.

Btw I mainly wanted to say thank you condor for your constant efforts to start discussions around here. Some people might criticize you for not always developing your ideas but I think it keeps the forum alive and healthy. Keep it up.

"Larks' tongues. Wrens' livers. Chaffinch brains. Jaguars' earlobes. Wolf nipple chips. Get 'em while they're hot. They're lovely. Dromedary pretzels, only half a denar."

condor wrote:

Thanks for the comments; I guess I need to feel content before experiencing happiness

Happiness, like unhappines is obviously a spectrum, and being content, is essentially being happy. If you go beyond that, you get into the realm of elation, and that is an unusual and only ocassional state for most people.

Happiness benfits society in the sense that it has physical and mental health benefits, reducing the demand for healthcare. It leads to less violence and conflict between individuals; the serious crime fraternity aside, of course. If you ae an unhappy person because spend 'too much' time pondering the mysteries of life, then try to take comfort from knowing that you are at least equipped to ponder such things, and you don't need triviality and camp TV froth to lift your spirits.

Is it realistic to be happy all the time? No.

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!