Comments on: Happiness vs. Utility, A Question http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/01/10/happiness-vs-utility-a-question/ Happiness and Personal Development Blog Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:11:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Miguel Trujillo http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/01/10/happiness-vs-utility-a-question/#comment-81 Sat, 13 Jan 2007 15:46:52 +0000 http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/01/10/happiness-vs-utility-a-question/#comment-81 Yes, happiness is the goal and the means, this is very insightful. I have been thinking about this for the last three days. It is a compelling statement. Thank you for this bit of wisdom. You said, "Pollution..., because pollution will make us unhappy". Is this true? Does pollution have the power to make us unhappy? I am not so sure. Yes, pollution will make us sick, but the choice to be happy lies with us. Yes, making choices that further our long-term happiness is critical. Great comments! Thanks Alexander, I really appreciate your insight. Thanks for reading the blog. Yes, happiness is the goal and the means, this is very insightful. I have been thinking about this for the last three days. It is a compelling statement. Thank you for this bit of wisdom.

You said, “Pollution…, because pollution will make us unhappy”. Is this true? Does pollution have the power to make us unhappy? I am not so sure. Yes, pollution will make us sick, but the choice to be happy lies with us.

Yes, making choices that further our long-term happiness is critical.

Great comments! Thanks Alexander, I really appreciate your insight. Thanks for reading the blog.

]]> by: Alexander Kjerulf http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/01/10/happiness-vs-utility-a-question/#comment-75 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:15:01 +0000 http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/01/10/happiness-vs-utility-a-question/#comment-75 That is a great comment on happiness Miguel. I spend a lot of time thinking on this topic too, and here's my take: Happiness is the goal AND the means. We all strive for happiness (or should) and the best way to get happiness is by being happy. Some ways of getting happy can be temporarily unpleasant, but few people get happy mostly by being unhappy. Secondly, I DO believe happiness is a good measure of utility. Pollution is a bad example, because pollution will make us unhappy. Losing a leg is a great example, because it shows that many of the things we worry about truly don't affect our happiness. We will be a lot happier, when we learn to make choices (individually and collectively) that further our long-term happiness. That being said, even if I know that I could be just as happy with one less leg (or two), I still take care to keep the legs that I have :o) That is a great comment on happiness Miguel. I spend a lot of time thinking on this topic too, and here’s my take:

Happiness is the goal AND the means. We all strive for happiness (or should) and the best way to get happiness is by being happy. Some ways of getting happy can be temporarily unpleasant, but few people get happy mostly by being unhappy.

Secondly, I DO believe happiness is a good measure of utility. Pollution is a bad example, because pollution will make us unhappy. Losing a leg is a great example, because it shows that many of the things we worry about truly don’t affect our happiness.

We will be a lot happier, when we learn to make choices (individually and collectively) that further our long-term happiness.

That being said, even if I know that I could be just as happy with one less leg (or two), I still take care to keep the legs that I have :o )

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