Comments on: Is Happiness Just Pleasure? http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/04/21/is-happiness-just-pleasure/ Happiness and Personal Development Blog Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:12:24 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: luke benton http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/04/21/is-happiness-just-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-3760 luke benton Wed, 29 Aug 2007 01:41:23 +0000 http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/04/21/is-happiness-just-pleasure/#comment-3760 Interesting question. personally i would pass on the opportunity. Pleasure is all fine but it is distinct from happiness, which is the logical consideration of pleasurable experiences. If one were to step into the machine i would expect that the machine would stimulate the production of chemicals responsible for pleasure. Like all inputs, the more you have, the more you need to get the same 'high'. I see that this machine would need to continually 'up the dose' to the patients in order to maintain the same effect. Eventually their physiall bodies would not be able to cope with all the increasing pressure and they would die. I found it interesting that 7 year olds were able to grasp the concept of heppiness being pleasure mediated by logical thought when presented in the context of a chocolate bar. If they eat chocolate they feel pleasure, too much chocolate and the pleasure turns to the pain of a stomach ache. If their pleasure is mediated by logical thought, the thought of the consequences of their actionsl, and they choose the actions that will minimise pain and enhance pleasure, then they will have happiness. Interesting question. personally i would pass on the opportunity. Pleasure is all fine but it is distinct from happiness, which is the logical consideration of pleasurable experiences. If one were to step into the machine i would expect that the machine would stimulate the production of chemicals responsible for pleasure. Like all inputs, the more you have, the more you need to get the same ‘high’. I see that this machine would need to continually ‘up the dose’ to the patients in order to maintain the same effect. Eventually their physiall bodies would not be able to cope with all the increasing pressure and they would die. I found it interesting that 7 year olds were able to grasp the concept of heppiness being pleasure mediated by logical thought when presented in the context of a chocolate bar. If they eat chocolate they feel pleasure, too much chocolate and the pleasure turns to the pain of a stomach ache. If their pleasure is mediated by logical thought, the thought of the consequences of their actionsl, and they choose the actions that will minimise pain and enhance pleasure, then they will have happiness.

]]> By: Ananga Sivyer http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/04/21/is-happiness-just-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-944 Ananga Sivyer Sun, 29 Apr 2007 18:24:51 +0000 http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/04/21/is-happiness-just-pleasure/#comment-944 Thank you for contributing this article to the Living by Design Blog Carnival - it has been included in this week's edition and is now live on my site. with best wishes Ananga Thank you for contributing this article to the Living by Design Blog Carnival – it has been included in this week’s edition and is now live on my site.

with best wishes
Ananga

]]> By: Swan http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/04/21/is-happiness-just-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-748 Swan Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:18:26 +0000 http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/04/21/is-happiness-just-pleasure/#comment-748 I run, don't walk, away! Bad stuff is how we learn and get wise. There's a point to it, which is for some of us, some small comfort. Being happy all the time is like trying to turn yourself into a sausage - not smart and just as pointless. Real rewards come from real effort, and that's how you get satisfaction - I think satisfaction is a very important component of true happiness. Great question! Also, I have put a link to your site on my blog. I would be honored if you would allow me to keep it; I really enjoy your insights. If you want, I will remove your blog link. You have my email, and my email is also posted on my site as well. Take care, Swan I run, don’t walk, away!

Bad stuff is how we learn and get wise. There’s a point to it, which is for some of us, some small comfort.

Being happy all the time is like trying to turn yourself into a sausage – not smart and just as pointless.

Real rewards come from real effort, and that’s how you get satisfaction – I think satisfaction is a very important component of true happiness.

Great question!

Also, I have put a link to your site on my blog. I would be honored if you would allow me to keep it; I really enjoy your insights. If you want, I will remove your blog link. You have my email, and my email is also posted on my site as well.

Take care, Swan

]]> By: tam http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/04/21/is-happiness-just-pleasure/comment-page-1/#comment-744 tam Sat, 21 Apr 2007 04:09:30 +0000 http://www.thinkhappythoughts.com/2007/04/21/is-happiness-just-pleasure/#comment-744 Your blog was mentioned on The Happiness Project. So glad I found it! I so appreciate reading about your exploration of happiness and have been pondering so many of these things myself. Just finished Byron Katie's new book, so enjoyed seeing her mentioned in one of your entries. Thanks. Your blog was mentioned on The Happiness Project. So glad I found it! I so appreciate reading about your exploration of happiness and have been pondering so many of these things myself.

Just finished Byron Katie’s new book, so enjoyed seeing her mentioned in one of your entries.

Thanks.

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