tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766985265879664956.post4733032199606390599..comments2023-08-18T04:41:17.410-07:00Comments on Happiness, truth, everything: localized vs. generalized views of causationsJazi Zilberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05905089558096276638noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766985265879664956.post-82202622355383404972009-08-21T16:50:44.563-07:002009-08-21T16:50:44.563-07:00Looking directly for happiness is thoughts of as a...Looking directly for happiness is thoughts of as a problem (sturart mill to Jonathan Schooler). <br /><br />But there are probably ways to do as if it is not direct. There are also levels of intentions etc. There is also time scale issue (you go to the pool to have fun, but do not search for the fun moement by moment.Jazi Zilberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05905089558096276638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766985265879664956.post-75051162738256400072009-08-21T14:28:50.848-07:002009-08-21T14:28:50.848-07:00I agree that happy moments create more happiness a...I agree that happy moments create more happiness and contribute something positive...<br />I just don't see how you can "go for" happy moments directly: to me that's a "side effect" (being a little bit hypocrit because part of the brain /mind / soul may be aware that one is going for happiness)i.c.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766985265879664956.post-74092159662247806932009-08-20T17:06:54.244-07:002009-08-20T17:06:54.244-07:00Why cannot being happy be reduced to having as muc...Why cannot being happy be reduced to having as much happy moments as possible?<br />There is quite some literature that having many happy moments, creates happniess and even a feeling of meaning. (I do not think it can be said to be entirely true, but the tendency is there for happy moments to have a positive effect on meaning etc.)<br /><br />More and the other points I got to think more.Jazi Zilberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05905089558096276638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766985265879664956.post-43587578245982517672009-08-20T13:42:20.792-07:002009-08-20T13:42:20.792-07:00concerning utility / meaning
1. I don't believ...concerning utility / meaning<br />1. I don't believe there is much conceptual difference, basically I see it both as a means for deciding in contrast maybe to throwing the dice (which I also hold as valid at a generalized level - there's a "nice" novel on this: "the dice man" by rhinhart) <br />2. The problem comes exactly from the interface / balance of localized / generalized: at a basic level it's easy to see the "utility" of eating a chocolate or being healthy or in love or enjoying a sport; or gardening or going to dog exhibitions or betting...;<br />on the other hand it's also quite obvious that all these "negligible" things (see your post on that) are irrelevant and on a broader view something like "being happy" (not my favorite), "being content",... is more important and cannot easily be reduced to the small things (what's the system here?)<br />3. Saying something is meaningful or gives utility is never absolute but depends on the person, society, circumstances (as you always point out); but it is also changable and manipulable, thus it would be worthwhile to improve it<br /><br />so in the end: I myself am fine if I find something like a "positive / acceptable" attractor of all those things I do, which means an evaluation afterwards (not too systematic if everything is fine)...<br />and somehow this is (at least for me) basically the (predicted) side effect of the operational principle "leave the good things alone and think about + change bad ones" (a little bit paradoxical maybe)i.c.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766985265879664956.post-59530954505848901632009-08-19T12:56:22.383-07:002009-08-19T12:56:22.383-07:001) Meaning and utilitarianism bothers me much for ...1) Meaning and utilitarianism bothers me much for a long time.<br />I used to think that only utility counts. But realized that psychologically people cannot live like that.<br />Moreover, for many there is a certain quality of experience about "meaning" engagement" and connection etc.<br />It is a cloudy subject. <br />I got the feeling, that pure utilitarian life is for many people not so happy. Your view?<br /><br />I do not know how to handle this. Honestly.<br /><br />(There is more to that. Meaning can be seen as an indirect utilitarian tool to get happy. While others see it as the thing itself.....)<br /><br />2) The perils of generalized view of life are huge.<br />2.1) Its psychological effects are very problematic at times.<br />Thinking global can bring lots of stress. Taking life seriously.<br />2.2.) bad focus. There is a phenomenon called action identification. i.e. we can look at an action at different levels. like lfie goal, yearly goal, writing a book, a chapter, a word, a letter.<br />They say that there is an optimal level of action identification. And many times thinking globally reduces one;s focus an effectiveness.<br /><br />Certainly, one may wish with eat the cake and have it too. i.e. having enough intuitive wisdom and control to dance on all weddings at once. It is usually not realistic.Jazi Zilberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05905089558096276638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3766985265879664956.post-88969769487052349812009-08-19T12:46:08.730-07:002009-08-19T12:46:08.730-07:00you are taking up an important, but unfortunately ...you are taking up an important, but unfortunately complex and almost unsolvable issue.<br /><br />as an outside oberver I tend to believe that people neglect the generalized view (and would clearly benefit from changes - though you might warn, rightly, that the outside observation may be insufficient);<br />but I understand that the main problem is the perils of a generalized view, namely the arbitrariness (what are "sensible" criteria for evaluating very different szenarios) and the resulting confrontation with the "void" (a lack of purpose or point or whatever you might call it).<br /><br />It's much easier (unfortunately) to avoid looking at the deeper arbitrariness when staying localized (though, of course, it is also necessary to close one's eye from time to time)i.c.noreply@blogger.com