As a species, we collectively generate so much misery. Not an indicator of a healthy society.
1
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
7 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.“Monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking questions.”
~ Primo Levi -- Auschwitz survivor
WilliamCharles
Level 8
Mar 1, 2019
0
"Be aware of this truth that the people on this earth could be joyous, if only they would live rationally and if they would contribute mutually to each others' welfare.
This world is not a vale of sorrows if you will recognize discriminatingly what is truly excellent in it; and if you will avail yourself of it for mutual happiness and well-being. Therefore, let us explain as often as possible, and particularly at the departure of life, that we base our faith on firm foundations, on Truth for putting into action our ideas which do not depend on fables and ideas which Science has long ago proven to be false.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage
Kurt is quoting his great grandfather Clemens Vonnegut.
WilliamCharles
Level 8
Mar 1, 2019
0
Obviously there's elements of any truism that don't hold up under deconstruction. But I think the absolutely amazing aspects of existence itself, and the planet and universe we inhabit, routinely become less so just because we get used to it. The "no one is happy" part and my commentary has to do with the many things our species and our respective societies do that create conditions were the prosperity of a particular group is at the expense of others. There's a hardened characteristic of much of humanity that as long as the bad things are happening to someone else, it's not all that much of an issue.
Seems we should be smart enough to devise more all encompassing win-win scenarios.
WilliamCharles
Level 8
Mar 1, 2019
1
I think the notion that prosperity is a zero-sum game is in the mix as well. If someone else prospers, it's not necessarily at my expense and on an overall basis, there's not a finite amount of things like "prosperity", "happiness" or "love" that are taken away from me to the extent that others have them.
I one has been unlucky in life in certain ways, but still able to be genuinely happy for others who had better luck in those areas, it's a sign that one has gotten over this notion. And that allows us to be more open to changes in society that will lift everyone out of poverty and disadvantage an inequity without always feeling the need to make sure no one takes from "what's ours".
Everything is amazing for some given value of "amazing", which is not always universally agreed to.
The goal, in my view, is not happiness, but contentment. It is not deciding what is amazing, but deciding that "what is", is amazing, or at least sufficiently interesting.
mordant
Level 8
Feb 28, 2019
1
We generate that misery within ourselves by the thinking of untrue thoughts. A lot of those thoughts are sparked by the media. We need to police our thoughts and weed out the lies. What’s left will bring joy and happiness.
WilliamFleming
Level 8
Feb 27, 2019
1
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
Share this post
Categories
Agnostic does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.