4 ms·

I have a strong suspicion that our modern society's obsession with pursuing happiness as an end goal is not healthy. Maybe what we need is an underlying sense o

by budu3 12y ago

I have a strong suspicion that our modern society's obsession with pursuing happiness as an end goal is not healthy. Maybe what we need is an underlying sense of contentment.

acornax 12y ago
I don't really agree that happiness itself is overrated, but certainly the pursuit itself is. edit: I agree with your ninja edit.
- budu3 12y ago
  Sorry about the ninja edit :) I was still forming my thoughts and trying to figure out how to articulate it properly.
pkghost 12y ago
I do not think the unhealthiness is in the goal. Goals are fine, and happiness is natural to want. Obsessions, on the other hand, are worth watching out for. They will consume you.
hyp0 12y ago
"Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so. The only chance is to treat, not happiness, but some end external to it as the purpose of life. Let your self-consciousness, your scrutiny, your self-interrogation exhaust themselves on that." - John Stuart Mill http://theliterarylink.com/anti_selfconsciousness.html http://theliterarylink.com/anti_selfconsciousness.html
nlh 12y ago
I (respectfully) disagree -- I think modern society's obsession with pursuing _material wealth & riches_ is not healthy, but I think the pursuit of happiness is a worthy goal. The two, of course, are often confused, but happiness can be found in many socioeconomic forms, and, frankly, I think it should be the goal. If you're happy - regardless of the size of your home or your bank account - what else do you really need?
- nwienert 12y ago
  I think it's more that you can't have happiness as a goal... as soon as you set a goal to "get" to happiness, you have missed the point. Life isn't about getting to anywhere, it's about enjoying the moment, happiness is only ever here. To make it a goal misses that point entirely!

4 ms·

I have a strong suspicion that our modern society's obsession with pursuing happiness as an end goal is not healthy. Maybe what we need is an underlying sense o

by budu3 12y ago

I have a strong suspicion that our modern society's obsession with pursuing happiness as an end goal is not healthy. Maybe what we need is an underlying sense of contentment.

acornax 12y ago
I don't really agree that happiness itself is overrated, but certainly the pursuit itself is. edit: I agree with your ninja edit.
- budu3 12y ago
  Sorry about the ninja edit :) I was still forming my thoughts and trying to figure out how to articulate it properly.
pkghost 12y ago
I do not think the unhealthiness is in the goal. Goals are fine, and happiness is natural to want. Obsessions, on the other hand, are worth watching out for. They will consume you.
hyp0 12y ago
"Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so. The only chance is to treat, not happiness, but some end external to it as the purpose of life. Let your self-consciousness, your scrutiny, your self-interrogation exhaust themselves on that." - John Stuart Mill http://theliterarylink.com/anti_selfconsciousness.html http://theliterarylink.com/anti_selfconsciousness.html
nlh 12y ago
I (respectfully) disagree -- I think modern society's obsession with pursuing _material wealth & riches_ is not healthy, but I think the pursuit of happiness is a worthy goal. The two, of course, are often confused, but happiness can be found in many socioeconomic forms, and, frankly, I think it should be the goal. If you're happy - regardless of the size of your home or your bank account - what else do you really need?
- nwienert 12y ago
  I think it's more that you can't have happiness as a goal... as soon as you set a goal to "get" to happiness, you have missed the point. Life isn't about getting to anywhere, it's about enjoying the moment, happiness is only ever here. To make it a goal misses that point entirely!