Because we have the ability to think counterfactually; that is, we can always imagine better worlds.
Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
11–20 of 40 posts
Re: Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
#12"Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. ... If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthy pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that…
The entire argument follows from a single incredible, unsubstantiated assumption, that “creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists.”
Being attributed to CS Lewis I’d hope it’s more metaphorical than theoretical.
Re: Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
#13The most successful life form on a planet will probably always ask themselves this. Because if we'd been happy remaining primitive then we wouldn't have become advanced. We were not happy after inventing technology (not with technology either, but we thought we would be). Evolutionarily: The people who were happy without children, or another child, or a second wife to make more children, were not as successful in pro…
> Why were peacocks not satisfied with a small slightly less colorful tail?
This is a weird analogy for all kinds of reasons. Not the least of which is that the extravagant tail (among other things) makes the bird highly specialized to a few environmental niches. Compare this to the humble rat that has been successful in just about any environment on the planet.
Re: Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
The entire argument follows from a single incredible, unsubstantiated assumption, that “creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists.”
Being attributed to CS Lewis I’d hope it’s more metaphorical than theoretical.
As an atheist, I'm mostly glad I never met the man. I think that if I had, remaining an atheist might be more difficult than it is. Even reading his works seems risky at times.
Not that his arguments are particularly rational, mind you. He was just that damned good.
Re: Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
#15Probably because there are other people you are always comparing yourself to.
Re: Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
#16"Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. ... If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthy pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that…
The entire argument follows from a single incredible, unsubstantiated assumption, that “creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists.”
I think this is substantiated, we absolutely desire our needs. I can't think of one single desire that does not demand satisfaction. Perhaps I am not understanding something.
Re: Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
#17Some humans live in a state of satisfaction because they have dispensed with desire. This is one of the principles of buddhist enlightenment.
Re: Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
#18I’ve yet to watch the video, however I’ve always assumed that people are never satisfied because satisfaction would not be very useful in our natural environment. Given that resources will almost always be constrained, satisfaction serves no purpose. Striving for more food, more status, more connection is always more useful practically speaking than being satisfied with what you have.
In fact, the question “why aren’t people satisfied?” Assumes that there’s any particular reason why people would be happy. Fully Satisfied people lose their strongest motivations. There’s not much evolutionary pressure to ensuring that people can stay happy or stay satisfied.
Re: Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
#19What happens if you were to be satisfied? You have sex once and then roll over into bliss, until a bear comes by and eats you. Thus all satisfying things must be fleeting.
What are the consequences of never being able to be satisfied?
You desire greater and greater things to please you. Eventually you must throw people to the lions in order to satisfy the masses. Eventually you find yourself on reddit watching people die. The other way exists as well. If sexual desire you're looking at porn on reddit. If food there's food porn as well. You're always seeking the next best.
Re: Why are humans never satisfied? [video]
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
The entire argument follows from a single incredible, unsubstantiated assumption, that “creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists.”
I think this is substantiated, we absolutely desire our needs. I can't think of one single desire that does not demand satisfaction. Perhaps I am not understanding something.
The context is that CS Lewis was a devout christian and evangelist, and is referring to spiritual desire.
I read "The Great Divorce", and interpreted it as metaphorical, in the "kingdom of heaven on earth" way. How honest work, faith, and openness are uplifting, vs getting trapped in psychological prisons.
But this quote refers to a literal afterlife. I don't know what to make of that.