forceOfHabit
Jul 25, 2017 · 1 min read

I’m still going to argue that happiness is purely subjective (and therefore one can never be mistaken about being happy).

I understand your point, that “something smells a bit wrong about such happiness” iin Paul’s case. I think, though, that rather than characterising him as subjectively happy but objectively unhappy, I would say that his current state of happiness, because it is founded on an illusion, is more fragile (or precarious) than happiness based on an accurate perception of circumstances.

The same assessment would apply to someone who is playing a video game or taking drugs; they are genuinely happy. But there are two attributes of their happiness which might color our assessment of it. In both cases, it seems likely that the happiness they derive from their activity is quite temporary. In addition, insofar as their activity causes them to forget the surrounding circumstances of their lives, it might also be quite fragile (like Paul’s was in your example).

So maybe, subjective happiness which is objectively either time limited or fragile is somehow objectively not quite as happy? Still, I don’t see how if I was happy yesterday, and tomorrow my doctor tells me I have had cancer for the last year and only have a month to live, that that somehow diminishes yesterday’s happiness, even though yesterday’s happiness was both fragile and time limited.

Hmmm… I will have to think some more about it.

    forceOfHabit

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