RoR: Forum

Good article Joe.

What I have always thought what is absolutely essential for a happy life are:

1. Philosophy

a. Physical health- getting enough to merely life, being fit, no diseases, having good shelter, so you are able to reason.

b. Money- a way to supply your physical health.

c. All other parts of your philosophy- knowing all essential things (overall philosophy) about the universe by proving it. (This would basically mean being easily able to recall and prove all things outlined on Importance of Philosophy and knowing what to do in virtually any situation.)

Once I am totally proud of my body, have a nice, safe home, have a steady source of funds to support my life, and I know all that I need to know about life, I will be happy.

But looking at it again, wouldn’t art be a major need? And what about falling in love?

Post 1

Tuesday, April 6, 2004 - 8:17pm

actually, of course art is a need.

I know that there are innumberable amount of individual human needs, but don't I emcompass all of them with my outline?

I think your article agrees with what I am saying.

But, can you be truly happy if you never fall in love?

If so, what about having children?

Post 2

Wednesday, April 7, 2004 - 1:11am

Eric,

I think you might be looking for happiness in the wrong place. Certainly the values you mention are important ones (money, love, understanding of the world, art, etc.). But there is no list of values you can obtain that would make you happy. Happiness is not a state which you can earn once, and then enjoy for the rest of your life. It's an ongoing thing. Happiness is tied to how you're living your life. If you try reaching a point, and then stagnate after that, you'll find the positive feelings are fleeting.

Happiness is a response to how well you're living your life. It's the result of your evaluation not of any particular state, but of how your life is progressing. It's related to the process of living. If you haven't yet, read my article titled The Meaning of Life:

http://www.solohq.com/Articles/Rowlands/The_Meaning_Of_Life.shtml
and my discussion of happiness:

http://www.solohq.com/Articles/Rowlands/What_is_Happiness.shtml

Can you truly be happy if you never fall in love? I think you can be happy. Just like you can be happy without a ton of cash. But both certainly make it easier to be happy, by generally improving the quality of your life. Both of them make living your life more enjoyable.

Post 3

Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 3:50pm