51–60 of 183 posts
My empirical study of happy people comes down to these three points: * Have low expectations * Enjoy simple things * Don't care too much
Earlier quoted context omitted.
In what sense is it more complex?
> In what sense is it more complex? The life is more complex because of the muddled and complex intellectual frameworks. This is because the 3-5 letter word concepts need to be defined to make sure everybody is talking about the same thing when people have to interact with more people.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> In what sense is it more complex? The life is more complex because of the muddled and complex intellectual frameworks. This is because the 3-5 letter word concepts need to be defined to make sure everybody is talking about the same thing when people have to interact with more people.
I don't think how you choose to describe the things that are change their nature.
My empirical study of happy people comes down to these three points: * Have low expectations * Enjoy simple things * Don't care too much
I'm trying to find how to maintain passion, drive and fun. The 'low expectations' philosophy always feel gray to me.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not caring much is such a slippery slope, because it's so easy to turn it to a default.
Apathy is the opposite of love, not hate. A life of apathy, is a life without love.
My empirical study of happy people comes down to these three points: * Have low expectations * Enjoy simple things * Don't care too much
Living a happy life and living a meaningful life aren't entirely the same thing. Not that you claimed they were, but I personally find it fruitful to cognate on the different lifestyles implied by optimizing for different values and how they fit together.
In particular, as we get older I think we also get more skillful at handling our own internal and external conditions to create a comfortable-like happiness. However, one of those skills is filtering out potentials for discomfort from unexpected events. Well made plans and expertly crafted systems of comfort also function as barriers between you and the larger world in a sense. Is that desirable?
In my experience, negative-valence emotions like non-panic fear, confusion, dissatisfaction, et al necessarily invoke an associated underlying value, providing a creative and productive impetus to produce said value(s). How desirable is that?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ancient societies were different. A male citizen from the aristocracy could lead a slow leisurely life, gathering with like-minded citizens on the agora and talking for hours, enjoying the finer things in life like wine and sporadic sexual contacts, taking part in sports competitions. The "ancient wisdom" we consume now is coming from that segment of the Greek and Roman societies.
I don't think that invalidates their conclusions. There's also Epictetus. That man can hardly be accused of being a spoiled aristocrat.
My empirical study of happy people comes down to these three points: * Have low expectations * Enjoy simple things * Don't care too much
Is a happy life a good life? I'm really not sure, but pursuit of the former is more of a modern conception of value as far as I can tell. Living a happy life and living a meaningful life aren't entirely the same thing. Not that you claimed they were, but I personally find it fruitful to cognate on the different lifestyles implied by optimizing for different values and how they fit together. In particular, as we get o…
Not at all, Epicurus
asserted that philosophy's purpose is to attain as well as to help others attain happy (eudaimonic), tranquil lives characterized by ataraxia (peace and freedom from fear) and aponia (the absence of pain).
He advocated that people were best able to pursue philosophy by living a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends.
He taught that the root of all human neuroses is denial of death and the tendency for human beings to assume that death will be horrific and painful, which he claimed causes unnecessary anxiety, selfish self-protective behaviors, and hypocrisy.