One Basic Question

[Venryx]

Just like everyone else, I try to avoid pain and seek happiness.

But I have a question: "What reason is there to continue doing so?"

No, I'm not planning on throwing myself into the lake or anything; it's just an interesting question that I've never been able to answer.

I've asked this question before, but hardly anyone seems to understand what I actually mean.

I am definitely not asking:
● Why are our brains wired to seek happiness?
● How do our bodies benefit when we're happy?
● Can we be happy without happiness having purpose?

I'm talking about something a lot more fundamental:
● What purpose is there in seeking happiness?
● Give my brain a logical reason to seek happiness.
● What reason is there to seek the state of happiness?

Or to word these questions in another way:
● What purpose is there in avoiding pain?
● Give my brain a logical reason to avoid pain.
● What reason is there to avoid the state of pain?

[Leonhard]

"What reason is there to continue doing so?"

Because that is what you want. Happiness is the thing you want most for its own sake. That's the definition of happiness. Wanting something gives you a reason for doing the things that best obtain happiness. I call those means virtuous, and I think (so far) that they're identical with the classical virtuous. I think avoiding pain, can be part of happiness, but its not essential. All else being equal, you'd be more happy without pain, however everything is rarely equal. There's plenty of things you can do, that would increase your happiness and cause you pain, and its being happy that you really want.

That's the ultra-short compacted version.

[Cow Poke]

Being unhappy is a drain on those around you. Seriously. Making others happy is what makes most of us happy.

Also, I would suggest you research the difference between joy and happiness. Happiness depends more on "happenings" (circumstances) where joy comes from inside, even in troubled times.

[technomage]

But I have a question: "What reason is there to continue doing so?"

Because pain hurts, and happiness feels good.

[Cow Poke]

Because pain hurts, and happiness feels good.

One of my favorite expressions... the only thing good about banging your head against the wall is that it feels SO GOOD when you stop!

[Jedidiah]

Pain normally causes damage to our person.

[Cow Poke]

Pain normally causes damage to our person.

OR, is trying to notify us that something is wrong BEFORE damage is done.

[technomage]

Pain normally causes damage to our person.

I could wish--fibro causes no actual damage, but the pain is pretty darn intense.

Sorry--enough whining.

[Cow Poke]

I could wish--fibro causes no actual damage, but the pain is pretty darn intense.

Sorry--enough whining.

There are, actually, a number of interesting facts about pain. In some disorders, pain is not present at all, which allows a person to severely burn their fingers because there's not that "knee-jerk reaction" (reflex) to pull your hand off the stove's burner.

[technomage]

There are, actually, a number of interesting facts about pain. In some disorders, pain is not present at all, which allows a person to severely burn their fingers because there's not that "knee-jerk reaction" (reflex) to pull your hand off the stove's burner.

Interesting in theory ... in practice, it's kinda hard to live with.

I knew someone who had a similar condition to what you describe. Every day, several times a day, he checked his extremities to determine whether or not he had injured himself and was not aware of it. He was completely paranoid about it--because his life and limbs literally depended upon it. If he injured himself without knowing it, he could get an infection that could turn to gangrene.

[Cow Poke]

Interesting in theory ... in practice, it's kinda hard to live with.

Well, YEAH, I think "severely burning one's fingers" would qualify as "kinda hard to live with".

[technomage]

Well, YEAH, I think "severely burning one's fingers" would qualify as "kinda hard to live with".

I'm just agreeing with you, CP.

[Cow Poke]

I'm just agreeing with you, CP.

I love you, man.

Maybe you're more up on this, Tech....

Seems I recall that one of the reasons that people with Leprosy are often missing fingers or toes is not because Leprosy causes them to "fall off", but because they lose sensation, and, as you mentioned, sustain injuries or get infections that subsequently cause the loss. Another indication that "pain" is actually beneficial to us.

[technomage]

Seems I recall that one of the reasons that people with Leprosy are often missing fingers or toes is not because Leprosy causes them to "fall off", but because they lose sensation, and, as you mentioned, sustain injuries or get infections that subsequently cause the loss. Another indication that "pain" is actually beneficial to us.

That's part of the picture, and an important part. Another part of the picture is that some forms of leprosy actually attack the skin structure while they attack the peripheral nerves, making lesions and plaques in the affected areas.

Biblical "leprosy" (tzaraath), on the other hand, seems to be a different critter altogether.

[robertb]

Just like everyone else, I try to avoid pain and seek happiness.

But I have a question: "What reason is there to continue doing so?"

No, I'm not planning on throwing myself into the lake or anything; it's just an interesting question that I've never been able to answer.

I've asked this question before, but hardly anyone seems to understand what I actually mean.

I am definitely not asking:
● Why are our brains wired to seek happiness?
● How do our bodies benefit when we're happy?
● Can we be happy without happiness having purpose?

I'm talking about something a lot more fundamental:
● What purpose is there in seeking happiness?
● Give my brain a logical reason to seek happiness.
● What reason is there to seek the state of happiness?

Or to word these questions in another way:
● What purpose is there in avoiding pain?
● Give my brain a logical reason to avoid pain.
● What reason is there to avoid the state of pain?

Are you sure that pain and happiness are necessarily antonyms?