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If you could only choose one: happiness or knowledge?

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  • 17 votes
zing 6 June 5
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The dichotomy implies that we are choosing between ignorance, or absence of knowledge, and sadness or despair, an absence of happiness. It's not a choice we really ever need to make except in movies.

You're right. Perhaps I should've asked 'which is more important to you' instead, or something along those lines.

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The problem is, with knowledge comes happiness and unhappiness. I am specifically referring to the knowledge of oneself. As you learn, grow, and wake up, so to speak, I think you go through periods of depression followed by euphoria.

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knowledge, because happiness is ellusive and transitory. If this is reframed as Matrix's red pill blue pill question, I choose the red pill

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Hard call, but I'm not much use dead, so there you go!

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Happiness
Too much knowledge and awareness can make it difficult to be happy. I know if l wasn't watching the news daily at this time in our nation l would feel better. Years ago l took about a years sabbatical from the news and l was definitely more content.

2

I've voted, but the more I think about it, the more I think it's a very trickier questions.
I answered Knowledge. Not that I don't want to be happy, but because I love to learn and that makes me happy. So basically, one would lead to the other.
Furthermore, I wouldn't ever willingly choose to be ignorant even if it meant being happy.
I think that in some cases ignorance may very well be bliss, but I don't think that shouldn't be a life goal.
Maybe that's just me...

Perhaps we can be a team, I chose happiness because I was scared I'd self destruct with just knowledge. I'll supply drinks, dinner and support 😉

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I’m rather amazed and disappointed by the ansswers here. Really? Happiness without knowledge is actually selfish and dangerous. Those who are knowledgeable are, generally, only made unhappy by those who are not.

I disagree, when I was in high school we had a vicar (or higher, can't remember), that come in and told a tale about a child prodigy, a violinist who was very precocious. Basically she questioned her life and committed suicide. Sorry not the best tale, but I'm happy to be in the position to try and assist but not know everything, which leads to happiness for me.
Knowledge is great, but knowing everything? I imagine it would be very frustrating and not necessarily put you into a situation where you could change anything.

@girlwithsmiles How does her suicide mean knowledge precludes happiness? Her misery probably wasn't knowledge. Maybe the Vicar, IDK. Also, it doesn't say "Knowing everything." I don't even believe that's possible. I see knowledge as a pursuit, not something one can fully attain, and the pursuit is interesting. That creates happiness.

@rainmanjr ah, I see, I guess I was reading it as absolutes. No, it doesn't mean, in real life, that knowledge precludes happiness, but being a child prodigy sadly didn't bring her the happiness which I bet many though it would. But the question does indicate that you choose one and it precludes the other, (choose only one). 😉

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I'm not sure you can have both. Knowledge brings with it 'awareness' and knocks down our superstitions and tears up our comfort blankets. Knowledge by its very nature seems to bring a certain amount of discomfort...

the pursuit of happiness is a petty goal.

@GregGasiorowski good luck!

Lets get happiness down to 1!

@Bierbasstard
... is a stagnant swamp. 😀

0

With knowledge comes balance. You’re not always happy but you know how to correct that.

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It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig, is of a different opinion, it is because they only know their own side of the question.

– John Stuart Mill

He may be right, but I don't see how he can conclude that the the satisfied pig would feel differently if it knew what it was like to be a dissatisfied human. In order to know that, John Stuart Mill would first need to know what it's like to be a satisfied pig, which seems unlikely.

The feelings of the pig are irrelevant.

@GregGasiorowski Not to the pig, but I prefer intelligent discourse to bacon

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Knowledge. I can do more lasting good by applying my knowledge than I can by reveling in happiness.

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not that we get to choose but why not be happy ?

Likewise why not believe a religious falsehood if it makes one happy?

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I am smart, and I've been happy. That being said, I'd choose happiness without hesitation.

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Happiness, cos knowledge has never made me happy

Ditto.

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Knowledge...definitely....but it would have to be knowledge that isn't commonly known (and something that I can't Google). For example, I would trade happiness to know for sure if there is life that does not originate on planet Earth and if any of those aliens have visited and are still visiting us and how they have affected/changed the course of human history. I might even require, in exchange for my happiness, that I get to meet them and travel to their homes. Ironically, that type of knowledge would make me incredibly happy....so, win/win.

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Knowledge without happieness sounds like hell.

Ignorance is bliss, so it goes...

That is knowledge without wisdom. Happiness without knowledge is barbaric.

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I understand the question but I can't envision a world that with knowledge I could not attain happiness. The other way around I see every day.

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Happiness. WIthout it, knowledge is meaningless.

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I chose knowledge because if I'm smart enough then I'll know how to achieve happiness

@goldenvalleyguy thank you, thank you very much

3

Happiness. No contest for me.

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