Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Club for Open-Minded Discussion & Debate

[gad-fly]

on say and so,
Don't worry; be happy was/is a catchy song. But you seem to recommend that the secret of happiness is ignorance, and the active non-pursuit of any knowledge that might be upsetting. To me, this strategy has ... drawbacks; shortcomings.

I am not preaching, but only raising an interesting point for debate/discussion. It would be empty if I simply ask: What do you think? i should first ask myself.

Happiness can take many forms. One form is playing the game of pretend. Another is to be converted. Would a dying person be happier if he is hypnotized to see himself going to heaven?

[Pattern-chaser]

Don't worry; be happy was/is a catchy song. But you seem to recommend that the secret of happiness is ignorance, and the active non-pursuit of any knowledge that might be upsetting. To me, this strategy has ... drawbacks; shortcomings.

I am not preaching...

I didn't think you are/were.

but only raising an interesting point for debate/discussion.

And what is that point? You seem only to be observing that, if we knew less, and thought less about things, we would be happier. You seem to be recommending Huxley's soma. Is that it?

[Describing 'soma' from the book 'Brave New World']
From birth, members of every class are indoctrinated by recorded voices repeating slogans while they sleep (called "hypnopædia" in the book) to believe their own class is superior, but that the other classes perform needed functions. Any residual unhappiness is resolved by an antidepressant and hallucinogenic drug called soma.

[gad-fly]

And what is that point? You seem only to be observing that, if we knew less, and thought less about things, we would be happier. You seem to be recommending Huxley's soma. Is that it?

The point is as titled. You can be happy if you stay hypnotized. On the other hand, you can stay sad if you stay hypnotized. It depends on how you are hypnotized.

You have mixed up different issues. Knowing more or less can mean one way or the other as far as happiness is concerned. Suppose you are illiterate, ignorant, stubborn, and so on. You can be happier or less happy than you are now, which is beyond your control. Smart-ass may think otherwise.

[Pattern-chaser]

OK. It seems there is no philosophical discussion to be had here. Take care!

[Sculptor1]

See what you want to see, hear what you want to hear, think what you want to think, and you are in paradise, period. It is so easy. No need to make effort. Just be and stay hypnotized by the gospel, and let the preacher handle it all. Never been to the Garden of Eden? You are in the Garden, now and forever.

In case you are in doubt, don't even think. Just listen to the preacher, and swallow it all. There are preachers around, here and anywhere.

What if you want to see is on the wrong side? What if you see ruin rather than success, and you cannot help it? Easy. Forbid yourself doing so. You never see what you do not want to see. Put it this way. The wrong end is untruth. See yourself winning the lottery. It is what you want to see, and it is the only truth.

In the absence of a better term, i call this the philosophy of the tiding. Let the winner take it all, and let everyone be the winner.

It's not just religion.
Religion is the easiest delusion to unpack.
The worst thing is the collection of economic myths and endemic assumptions promoted by those in power to keep them in power and to make each of us ashamed and blamed for not being as rich and powerful as they are.
Here's one.
"The economy is just like a household".

[I Am Fish]

The secret to happiness is to accept reality exactly as it is with out resisting it.