Our group primarily focused on the concept of luck, and how we all seem to lose sight of the fact that life itself is a kind of privileged instance of which few maintain an appropriate appreciation. Clearly, it is all too easy to attribute a lack of happiness to "bad luck", overlooking the luck of life itself. This is likely a result of our nature to focus on specific instances of action, as opposed to a comprehensive perspective on our existence. It's common enough to forget how well the big things are going, when all the little things go wrong. While some may see happiness as something to be achieved within life, and others a thing attained simply by survival, we cannot dismiss the significance of having a chance to do either. One would imagine a number of philosophies (those that focus on actually living life, rather than thinking about it), would regard the appreciation of this chance to be at least one of, if not the first, stepping stone in exploring/experiencing happiness in life.
Factual Question: Who gave us The Experience Machine thought experiment? (Answer: Robert Nozick)
ReplyDeleteDiscussion Question: Would you want to be hooked up to the Experience Machine? Why or why not?
Comment: I'm slightly concerned about the focus that we've taken on what we mean by being "lucky." While understandable, given that few of us had the chance to read the chapter, I found that we derailed a bit from the purpose of the first chapter. More than anything, Bok is establishing which techniques of study and thought she has incorporated into her book as a whole. The luck portion of the chapter is miniscule at best. I would have really enjoyed getting into the differences between empirical and narrative accounts for happiness, though revisited in the following chapters, being that Bok does mention both practices as being complimentary to one another in understanding what happiness is. I also really enjoyed her tendency to remain distant in this chapter, reminding the reader that there is no "one way" to achieve happiness, as was mentioned in reference to self-help books and much of pop-psychology. I can't help but feel a little disgusted when I hear someone advocating the only way to achieve what they consider a "true" happiness, as though there's some elite group that has it all figured out so much more than we do. Religious groups have a tendency to do this, and as much as I respect others' beliefs, I really get urked by the mentality that their way is the only way regardless of the countless people in the world that are professing their own happiness while clearly not taking part in this one, particular, regional religious practice. Either way, I really look forward to next class :)
I had a conversation with my roommate about oblivion and nonexistance when we die, and he was so disturbed by the possibility that he down-right refused to see any meaning to life without something to look forward to afterwards. I just had to ask him (in a rather overly enthusiastic tone) "Doesn't the possibility that there could be nothing when we die make life itself so much more special and unique?" to which he responded "No, I would just disappear and be forgotten." I got kind of tart at this point, telling him something like "Well, if you don't see how you can effect other people and leave an impact on the world, you've clearly missed one of the most important parts of life itself--regardless of an afterlife." We continued this discussion for a good hour or so before it devolved into video games and pop culture references. It was quite the conversation...especially considering that it occured BEFORE our discussion in class yesterday!
I often think of Incubus when I think about life and its meaning, happiness, etc. I'm sure everyone has heard their song "Drive," but the lyrics to that song take on a pretty positive outlook despite the unknowns of life:
"Sometimes I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear
And I cant help but ask myself how much I'll let the fear take the wheel and steer
It's driven me before, it seems to have a vague
Haunting mass appeal
Lately I'm beginning to find that I should be the one behind the wheel
Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there, I'll be there
So if I decide to waiver my chance to be one of the hive
Will I choose water over wine and hold my own and drive, oh oh
It's driven me before, it seems to be the way
That everyone else get around
Lately, I'm beginning to find that when I drive myself, my light is found
Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there, I'll be there
Would you choose water over wine
Hold the wheel and drive
Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there, I'll be there"
I agree with you here that the first chapter doesn't seem to deal too much with luck. I thought it was interesting how Bok explains that we have to take into account the different types of personal narratives, experiences along with the empirical findings, like in science or economics because alone these approaches don’t give us the full scope of happiness.
DeleteI agree with Nozick in thinking that plugging into a machine rather than actually living life would be a kind of suicide. It would seem like a good alternative when I'm having a bad day, but ultimately I would rather face life head on.
DeleteMy factual question would be how many students would try the machine?
(5%)
Does this statistic surprise anybody or just confirm their guesses?
"It's common enough to forget how well the big things are going, when all the little things go wrong. While some may see happiness as something to be achieved within life, and others a thing attained simply by survival, we cannot dismiss the significance of having a chance to do either."
ReplyDeleteThis is very true- The majority of people rarely step back and look at the grand scheme of their life as whole- and not just their life, but humanity in itself. It seems people have tendencies to focus on oneself and trivial issues that seem world altering, when really, we are all along just for the ride. I'm not entirely sure if I understand what exactly you mean by happiness being attained simply by survival- Is this pertaining to people with the mindset that living a good and moral life will give them happiness or bliss in their believed afterlife, or are you referring to simply an unattainable goal for happiness that is striven for by means of soul searching, art, travel etc that is never found because it is sought after, when it(happiness) should simply be a mindset one taps into in the correct circumstances?
Sounds like you guys had an interesting discussion though!
I think what we were getting at was a more survival-based "luck" wherein only a few are really well equipped to even pursue such things as art and travel. We mentioned those who could be unhappy simply because someone else had the "bigger stick," as Ken put it. It wasn't in the context of beliefs about "the beyond" or pursuits outside of attempts to live on...though, I'm sure those will all come up throughout the semester lol
DeleteComment: I also had a philosophical discussion about the afterlife with my roommate, but this was after class. One thing I took from class that I thought was a really interesting concept was about non-existence. I know in class we discussed about whether or not non-existence would be such a bad thing. I believe Phil even said that he didn't think he minded having never been born before he was ever born, or at least something along those lines to entertain this idea. I always thought of not existing as such a terrible, dark idea until after last class. I am looking forward to more ideas like these in our discussions.
ReplyDeleteIt's when we finally realize that "Hey, wait a minute...there wouldn't be a ME to experience the not existing thing" that the thoughts about oblivion become more than just abstractions. I'm really happy that this class has brought you further away from fear of something that we really shouldn't be afraid of...By definition, any fear we have of it will only exist while we do :P
Deletehttps://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/427059_10150645237930498_1445899966_n.jpg
ReplyDeleteAlso, here is something worth sharing in my opinion. I have never taken a philosophy class, so I was trying to get a general idea about different philosophical ideas. This is an oversimplified, yet entertaining way to look at it!
Missing the mark on some of them, but I definitely giggled a few times reading that :D Thanks for sharing, Samantha!
Delete(Maia Lewis)
ReplyDeleteBeing happy in the fact of one's own existence is usually not thought of or mentioned unless someone has died, almost died, or something of the like. Generally, people are too preoccupied with who has what and how they compare to others to really appreciate and experience the joy of being. It is unfortunate that society only values a person for what they do, and not for who they are.