We will be having a Philosopher's Cafe in Edmonton on the subject THE HAPPINESS SEEKING SICKNESS OF MANKIND, in March. The happiness seeking sickness is no denigration of happiness, but the idea that it can be a constant leads to a social sickness.
While I do not do or endorse the use of drugs I do not have an opinion as to what a person does to their own body, so long as it does not cause harm to others, I have warned former friends that there is a finite gap between an effective dose of a substance and a lethal dose. As one uses a substance the body develops a tolerance (as it is w/me and hot peppers) and that gap narrows. People spend most of their life chasing these little "highs" w/many different thing other than substances.
@SecularInquisitor I agree with your statement regarding the finite gap and its narrowing with continued pursuit of momentary "highs." I think the best way to prevent or remove an addiction to any momentary pleasure is to think of the goal as not being the pleasure itself, but the furtherance of one's life. If an activity contributes to one's life, it should be pursued, and only to the extent it is constructive. Eventually, one can learn to experience pleasure due to self-improvement as such.
One way a person can become despondent over Love (the romantic kind) is to take to heart the fable that has been made of it: the-passion-that-could-melt-a-planet kind of affair that Hollywood churns out too many times.
Thank you for reminding us that the longest lasting love is that which one truly cares about one's partner rather than satiating one's carnal and/or narcotic-like needs.
Why is life good in and of itself? A sustainable level of happiness is good because it leads to a greater quantity of pleasure, in my view; i find it a mistake to see the flourishing/eudemonia as a good in and of itself, and not merely a means to obtain the product of our desires (uniformly a positive perception of some kind that could be equated to pleasure) in a sustainable manner likely to bring more such feelings in one lifetime. Though weather it really matters as we're all going to die..:/
Excellent work here, GS! While you stressed the biological origins of what is recognized as pleasure you also poked at, perhaps, metaphysical origins as well. From a pantheistic perspective, the larger being feels good when it grows and less so when it stagnates or deteriorates. An agent of growth, a human being in this case, will feel a portion of the happiness of the greater being resulting from their own contribution to general growth as is accomplished in anonomous philathropic measures.
This is why I enjoy my Rubik's cube... I address my emotions while cubing, and it helps... but if I ever lost my cubes... well, I wouldn't be too sad... lol
I appreciate your kind words. Indeed, it is quite interesting that I was able to arrive at some of the conclusions of Buddhism using Western philosophical sources. Perhaps this is further confirmation of the universality of valid philosophical insights. :-)
@Americanwolverine06 Thank you!
GStolyarovII 6 months ago
We will be having a Philosopher's Cafe in Edmonton on the subject THE HAPPINESS SEEKING SICKNESS OF MANKIND, in March. The happiness seeking sickness is no denigration of happiness, but the idea that it can be a constant leads to a social sickness.
allsaintsmonastery 2 years ago
While I do not do or endorse the use of drugs I do not have an opinion as to what a person does to their own body, so long as it does not cause harm to others, I have warned former friends that there is a finite gap between an effective dose of a substance and a lethal dose. As one uses a substance the body develops a tolerance (as it is w/me and hot peppers) and that gap narrows. People spend most of their life chasing these little "highs" w/many different thing other than substances.
SecularInquisitor 2 years ago
@SecularInquisitor I agree with your statement regarding the finite gap and its narrowing with continued pursuit of momentary "highs." I think the best way to prevent or remove an addiction to any momentary pleasure is to think of the goal as not being the pleasure itself, but the furtherance of one's life. If an activity contributes to one's life, it should be pursued, and only to the extent it is constructive. Eventually, one can learn to experience pleasure due to self-improvement as such.
GStolyarovII 2 years ago
One way a person can become despondent over Love (the romantic kind) is to take to heart the fable that has been made of it: the-passion-that-could-melt-a-planet kind of affair that Hollywood churns out too many times.
Thank you for reminding us that the longest lasting love is that which one truly cares about one's partner rather than satiating one's carnal and/or narcotic-like needs.
I had almost forgotten that.
bahdum 2 years ago 2
Thank you for watching and for your excellent insights here!
GStolyarovII 2 years ago
Thank you.
bahdum 2 years ago
Thank you for watching!
GStolyarovII 2 years ago
thanks for the reminder
JamesCalico 2 years ago
You are welcome. Thank you for watching.
GStolyarovII 2 years ago
Great video! Favorited.
You might find the series I did on ethics interesting.
XOmniverse 2 years ago
Thank you for the favorite! I will definitely look into your series.
GStolyarovII 2 years ago
Why is life good in and of itself? A sustainable level of happiness is good because it leads to a greater quantity of pleasure, in my view; i find it a mistake to see the flourishing/eudemonia as a good in and of itself, and not merely a means to obtain the product of our desires (uniformly a positive perception of some kind that could be equated to pleasure) in a sustainable manner likely to bring more such feelings in one lifetime. Though weather it really matters as we're all going to die..:/
unassumption 2 years ago
Damn ! You know Phyllis.
no1saphead 2 years ago
I am glad subscribed to you. Great videos, this one included. Take care.
bezboznik84 2 years ago
Thank you for your subscription and for continuing to watch my videos!
GStolyarovII 2 years ago
Excellent work here, GS! While you stressed the biological origins of what is recognized as pleasure you also poked at, perhaps, metaphysical origins as well. From a pantheistic perspective, the larger being feels good when it grows and less so when it stagnates or deteriorates. An agent of growth, a human being in this case, will feel a portion of the happiness of the greater being resulting from their own contribution to general growth as is accomplished in anonomous philathropic measures.
1140Cecile 2 years ago
Thank you for the kind words and the interesting perspective!
GStolyarovII 2 years ago
This is why I enjoy my Rubik's cube... I address my emotions while cubing, and it helps... but if I ever lost my cubes... well, I wouldn't be too sad... lol
nice vid.
izovire 2 years ago
Thank you!
GStolyarovII 2 years ago
This is exactly the point made in Buddhism. Enjoy your brain drugs, but don't be an addict.
You hit the nail on the head in ways I could never.
Good work my friend!
anubis2814 2 years ago 2
I appreciate your kind words. Indeed, it is quite interesting that I was able to arrive at some of the conclusions of Buddhism using Western philosophical sources. Perhaps this is further confirmation of the universality of valid philosophical insights. :-)
GStolyarovII 2 years ago