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Monday, July 5. 2010

The Case Against Happiness

Our Editor asked me to comment on McArdle's post of the above title. Happiness is, as I have discussed here in the past, undefineable.


Joy is defineable, peace of mind is, contentment is, delight is. Pursuit of happiness is a fool's errand. (Is it true that Jefferson's first draft was "pursuit of property", but that was edited out?)


Key quote from her post:



Instead of asking parents and non-parents whether they are happy right now, we might ask whether they are becoming more like the people they want to be. And then we might see children not as factors that may or may not be contributing to our happiness, but as opportunities to practice what most of us -- perhaps me most of all -- need to do more often, which is to put someone else before ourselves.


Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss in Our Essays, Psychology, and Dr. Bliss at 10:30 | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0)

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Dr. Joy, To add to the puzzlement: We must lose ourselves in order to find ourselves. And, we all seem to need the joy of accomplishment in our lives-whatever that may be.
#1 Thalpy on 2010-07-05 11:28 (Reply)
Happiness is spending the most amount of time doing the things you like to do, and the least amount of time doing the things you dont like to do.

For me, I prefer to be free of encumberances from government regulation and social programs.
#2 david gutstein on 2010-07-05 11:41 (Reply)
Quote "...to practice what most of us -- perhaps me most of all -- need to do more often, which is to put someone else before ourselves".
Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss

David Gutstein,

I think you pretty much contradicted Dr Bliss's statement with yours, and I think she is correct.

We find happiness by doing what someone else likes to do, not by doing what WE like to do, it seems opposite, but it's just the way it is.

I think it has something to do with the way we are meant to be with other people- we're made to socialize.

As a parent, I know it's true that you have a lot of fun when you're introducing your kid to a new pursuit and doing it with them.
#2.1 LP on 2010-07-06 18:21 (Reply)
No citations, just memories I have from the passing scene.

"pursuit of property" was stricken because it would reinforce the slave holding south's contention that slaves were property, not "all men" created equal. The 3/5 counting of slaves was also a compromise - the southerners wanted them counted fully, the "abolitionists" wanted them to not count at all.

The Declaration and the Constitution were compromises - necessary to gain support for the Revolution and Union. The issues were revisited in the 1860s - violently. They are with us today.
#3 Roy Lofquist on 2010-07-05 13:02 (Reply)
Certainly yall jest, Missy Bliss.

There is no case against happiness and thousands of American lives spent for happiness assure this poor soul that be so.

Happiness is being able to overcome cain'ts sorry heritage.
#4 Leag on 2010-07-05 14:29 (Reply)
Happiness is simply self-fulfillment, in the infinite forms it may take. Not undefinable, and quite properly a gift from our Creator to pursue it throughout a life well-lived, without impediment from government.
#5 Everyman (Link) on 2010-07-05 16:40 (Reply)
Dr. Joy, I believe the post is actually written by Tony Woodlief, not McCardle. He does some fine writing at his blog at tonywoodlief.com and is a frequent contributor to numerous magazines and papers.
#6 Buzard on 2010-07-05 22:44 (Reply)

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