Hello everyone,
Hope all of the US members are enjoying the holiday weekend.
I've been struggling lately with conversations with friends and associates about what is the most important thing in life.
Many are arguing that personal happiness is all that matters, and that a homeless man who is happy, is "winning" at life compared to the guy struggling to support his family.
It quickly turns into an almost religious argument, where all critique of another's life is invalid. Since you don't know if the 30 year old pizza delivery driver, still living at home with his parents, is happier than the accountant with a wife and kids, then you have no right to ask why the pizza delivery driver hasn't tried to achieve more in life. After all, worth is not measured in money, but in how "happy" you are.
The place where I feel this argument falls apart is when one person's happiness is derived from causing others pain/discomfort.
If it makes the arsonist happy to burn down your home, then it's difficult to make the statement that personal happiness is the most important thing in life, correct?
After all, the arsonist's happiness is increased by burning your home.
The "well if they're happy who cares" mantra is chanted everywhere these days.
What is your opinion on the argument that personal happiness is the most important thing in life?