Happiness and meaning are both important for a well-lived life. And the sources of both happiness and meaning tend to be the same (value, purpose, efficacy, and self-worth), so the two are often well-aligned. But what should a person do when the two conflict? Which should a person sacrifice for the sake of the other? I haven't seen much in the literature to address this question. In practice I think most people consistently choose happiness over meaning (we're designed to be happiness-seekers more than meaning-seekers), and when a person seems to be seeking meaning it's often the case that they believe that happiness will result from the meaning, but I don't think that's the right approach.
posted by howtolive.org at
8:31 AM
4 Comments:
Meaning can be achieved with no happy consequences. I don't think you are saying that there is a correlation between happiness and meaning, but that sometimes one can derive happiness from meaning. But it is meaningful to do a selfish act that benefits someone else more than oneself and not derive any happiness from that act. So while I agree that most people want to have happiness as the goal, or meaning to achieve happiness, I disagree that this connection is as important as I think you are making it to be. Now, maybe you will argue that if the meaningful act does not bring you any happiness the act was not meaningful in the first place, but it migth be meaningful to the person who received the benefits of that selfish act.
By
aem, at 6:34 PM
Some people think that it is meaningful to have children and that it will bring them happiness. However, most people that have children are not happy. It is a lot of work, sacrifice, and worry and still these people choose to believe that they are happy even when they are not. You can hear them complain about parenthood but as soon as you ask them if they like having children they go into the rehearsed answer of "it's so wonderful, it changes your life, i would highly recommend it" when two minutes before they had a completely different attitude. I think people are honest in choosing to believe they are happy even when they are not, simply because their genes are dictating their actions. And I have to believe that consciousness plays a big role here too. Are parents conscious and if they are, why don't they admit they are not happy? I think the answer is because they put meaning ahead of happiness, but I just don't understand why it is so important for them to argue happiness as well.
By
Anonymous, at 8:50 AM
I think that "Dharma" deals with the happiness/meaning duality...
By
Anonymous, at 7:47 PM
Then what is the right approach?
By
Anonymous, at 11:41 AM
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