Ignorance: Is Tabula Rasa the Key to Happiness?

  • Thread starter the number 42
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Ignorance
In summary, there is a debate on whether ignorance truly brings happiness. Some argue that it is human nature to search for truth and that going against this nature leads to consequences of not being happy. However, others argue that ignorance is bliss and that not knowing the truth can bring happiness. It is also discussed that the more knowledge one gains, the more miserable they become, but this is not always the case. Some suggest that true, elite knowledge can bring happiness. Ultimately, it is acknowledged that there are different perspectives and that the majority of people may not care about the world's troubles and find bliss in their ignorance.
  • #36
the number 42 said:
Nonsense on stilts, dekoi.

"Since justice is good for humanity" i.e. you are assuming the correctness of your premise without giving evidence - therefore it may be a false premise. And since justice is subjective - the proof is that people have different ideas of what is just - it will differ across humanity, therefore your premise is false.
Of course your argument may be logically correct, but given the false premise, nonsensical.
Fair enough number 42.

Are you challenging the fact that justice is good for humanity, or that justice is subjective?

If the former --> When was the last time you went to court hoping the judge will not be 'just' in his 'judge'ment? I mean... i don't understand how you could question that. Justice is a self-evident truth.

The latter --> To say justice is objective is to rely on my above statement (regarding justice being good). If justice is good, then it is good for all humans, and thus is universal.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #37
Hi,

True justice requires understanding, wisdom, and strength that is lacking in all but a very few people on this planet.

It means being loving and compassionate when the situation calls for it, and being warlike and vengeful when the situation calls for it. It means having the right action/reaction for all situations inbetween these extremes.

The first requirement for justice is truth.

juju
 
  • #38
juju said:
The first requirement for justice is truth.juju
Thank you; you have shown the interconnection and dependency of these transcendental virtues -- justice and truth.
 
  • #39
dekoi said:
What makes you think that the more you know, the more miserable you become? Perhaps that is true for some degree of high knowledge, but when one achieves true, elite knowledge, they are no longer miserable -- because now, they know about human virtue and nature.

Still, no one has truly justified why my point regarding the search for truth being human nature is wrong.

Humans who are ignorant are going against their nature. You all give examples of people who state that all they want is sex, or '"gadgets"; what makes you think they are not miserable? Just because they put on a happy face when you see them does not mean they are happy.

Like i said, and i repeat myself for the sake of emphasizing the point, ignorance is easy, which is why so many are mislead by it.


Human virtue is an oxymorn, unless you are referring to lack of.

The more i learn about people, the more miserable reality is. The more the truth of 'human virtue and nature' is revealed to me, the more i wish i was anything but human.

I've seen far too much stupidity in the world, everyday of my life, and far too many people ridicule those who do love knowledge, to believe that the quest for knowledge is a fundamental drive. And biologically why should it be?

However--

'Will to power' is a fundamental drive. And the quest for truth, the 'will to truth' is a manifestation of it. It is not the fundamental drive itself, it is an affect of the fundamental drive, the 'will to power.'

For different people the 'will to power' manifests differently. For some it is the power of knowledge, others the power of wealth, others the power of sexual and/or psychological dominance. But all of these are simply outlets, manifestations of the 'will to power'
 
  • #40
franznietzsche said:
'Will to power' is a fundamental drive. And the quest for truth, the 'will to truth' is a manifestation of it. It is not the fundamental drive itself, it is an affect of the fundamental drive, the 'will to power.'

"But seeing as true power only resides in truth, and truth is justice, hahaha, thank you, for you have proved my point exactly. hahahahaha"

There you go, Dekoi. I have written your post for you so you can take a day off now.
 
  • #41
dekoi said:
No. AiA answers the above in his post:

He rightfully explains that knowledge (or rather, wisdom) is a part of happiness.

I don't think many people really understand what happiness really is.


but isn't "happiness" something different for everybody?


the tao te ching says "the more we know the less we understand." - ignorance is bliss. i don't think either of these statements are saying anything negative about anyone who wants to learn more. i just think it's saying, be aware of what you are getting into, because it will probably make life more complicated for you and there will always be more questions to be answered. i don't think it is trying to say that it is better to be ignorant and worse to be knowledgeable.
 
  • #42
the number 42: I qualm you have anything meaningful to say. It seems that as soon as your "arguments" are challenged, you reside in your little world of humor, to hide your confusion of the real issue. I will do better than to degrade myself to your level and ruin the real philosophical discussion on this forum.

I got an idea everyone. Perhaps we should stop the search and hunger for truth and become ignorant proletarians?

If we ignore knowledge, we might as well be programmed like automata. I have never met a man who was happy he knew of nothing.

And no one has objected (and i then assume that you accept it as true), to my statement:

...ignorance is easy, which is why so many are mislead by it.
 
  • #43
dekoi said:
the number 42: I qualm you have anything meaningful to say. It seems that as soon as your "arguments" are challenged, you reside in your little world of humor, to hide your confusion of the real issue. I will do better than to degrade myself to your level and ruin the real philosophical discussion on this forum.

:rofl:

Dang! Didn't I give you the day off?
 
  • #44
Hi,

In the realm of Will there are three elements.

Will to good and goodness
Will to freedom and peace
Will to power and ability.

The attainment of power and ability guarantees the peace and freedom to pursue and experience the good and the goodness.

There is no other guarantee. There are other beliefs, but really no other guarantee.

juju
 
  • #45
"As an example, let's look to homosexuality. Humans naturally strive for love, or unity.
It is evident that opposite sexes are complimentary [in that each one provides what the other does not have].
When a male and a male decide to have a sexual relationships,
and thus go against their nature, they face consequences. Therefore,
to refer back to our situation: Those who are ignorant are going against their nature,
and thus facing the consequence of not being truly happy. "-dekoi

But then it is also human nature to seek out a loving relationship...
Sexual orientation is primarily formed in early childhood...
Children are highly impressionable in youth to experiences such as where phobias come from...
The world is not always as pretty a place as we often see with the eye or the mind...
And lastly we(society) teach our children how to behave without saying anything...
Why do some people become gay? Is it really out of rebelliousness or a desire to be different,
or faulty wiring perhaps or genetic abnomalies, or purely chance, or
is it the byproduct of various factors and drives placed in certain situations, or something else?

Everyone already knows the answer to this if they really want to know it, we all are born with
The Ultimate Knowledge!... but often choose not to see it for rather seeing what we want to see.


Mabye the question would be better phrased, "if ignorance is bliss,
why is this true, and if ignorance is not bliss why is this also true?" like that song
"we are siamese if you please, badum bum bum, we are siamese if you don't please badum bum bum".
 
  • #46
Welcome to the forum, Y.T.!

dekoi said:
And no one has objected (and i then assume that you accept it as true), to my statement:

...ignorance is easy, which is why so many are mislead by it.

Someone must either object to your statement or believe it? Google "false dilemma".
 
Last edited:
  • #47
If only there were an Infallible Human Being award...
 
  • #48
Just to settle this quickly, ignorince is not bliss, you can still be happy while be ignorant, but being ignorant itself in no way brings bliss, I don't understand why anyone would argue this.
 
  • #49
So you are saying that there is no relationship between happiness and ignorance? Hmm that's a good one... so people are happy if they want to be happy, and if they want to be sad be sad, or look at knowledge that they think will make them sad...
But then what is sadness? It has suddenly occurred to me that I don't undestand a single word of the quote, and there is little agreement as to what they mean!
 

Similar threads

  • General Discussion
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • General Discussion
Replies
22
Views
13K
Replies
18
Views
4K
Replies
21
Views
860
Replies
5
Views
618
  • General Discussion
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • General Discussion
Replies
21
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
482
  • Feedback and Announcements
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • General Discussion
Replies
20
Views
2K
Back
Top