What are the parts of your happiness?

LeighSabio · 2012-02-14 14:58:06

So, I'm studying utilitarianism. I have a few issues with it, but I found it interesting when Mill said that some things (one that he suggested was virtue) were a part of happiness. What he meant by a part of happiness, is that they became desired for their own sake, because the person could not imagine ever being happy without them. So with that in mind, what do you consider the parts of your happiness?

Gelzo · 2012-02-14 16:09:40

Hm, well I've been described as adhering to utilitarianism, and I figure it's an apt description of how I see things.

I think it's overstating things to say that I couldn't ever be happy without something. I think most things in my life I could learn to live without and have some degree of happiness. I think that it's more that there are some things that would make the idea of life more satisfying to me, like having reproduced, been a help to people, made use of my talents. Those things are things that might not make me happy emotionally, but they'd make me feel better about the fact of my living.

Unknown · 2012-02-14 16:34:16

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Haven · 2012-02-14 16:34:58

Imipolex G · 2012-02-14 16:41:56

I've never been happy so I don't know.

Unknown · 2012-02-14 16:47:16

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Viani · 2012-02-14 18:51:53

The world exists so that I may be happy, me and me alone.

millercross · 2012-02-14 19:00:28

sure it does, tnophedork.

sure it does.

--pats your back--

Justice4243 · 2012-02-20 23:21:11

Keeping busy, being useful, having someone to love and to be loved back, a well written and executed story, mythology, religion, the occult, kitties.

Not sure if all or any of that falls into "could never be happy without". I've always wondered if my life got so shit that I wanted to escape that I might find a contentment in becoming a monk of some sort...

Though there might be some overlap with "having someone to love and to be loved back"...

Imipolex G · 2012-02-20 23:22:09

For a long time now I've wondered if I would be happier as a monk of some sort.

Unknown · 2012-02-20 23:48:12

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Haven · 2012-02-20 23:49:11

I used to think that a lot; I haven't in a while though.

Justice4243 · 2012-02-21 14:48:40

I guess maintaining my integrity would fall under "could never be happy without". That might link with "virtue" mentioned in the OP.

Also it dawned on me that I'm basically stealing Wufie's shtick. Which is funny, because I remember watching Gundum Wing and wanting to beat the tar out of him every time he whinnied about his integrity.

Probably helps that I've studied Chinese culture/religion a bit more since then and release that integrity covers a lot of ground in regards to personality, values, etc...

What are the parts of your happiness?

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