Philosophy Now Forum

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 7:34 am

Veritas Aequitas wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 3:23 am

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 1:18 am

Of the three above, I'd say contentment is the best or at least more realistic for me. Happiness fades and depends upon externalities which are out of my control and mostly not available for me. Joy, I've heard people talk about joy in finding faith and stuff but I'm a basket case when it comes to religion. So contentment seems more down to earth and attainable.

Hitler could have felt happy, joyful and contented when he killed 6 million Jews and so did his ardent followers plus more so by many Muslims. All the above are ultimately fleeting.

Who cares about Hitler? He was a monster and he's dead. Doesn't change my perspective on contentment. No idea what that has to do with anything.

Means that you could have felt contented after what you have done like what Hitler did or you have committed certain evil acts, like torture, rape and kill a baby for pleasure??
Adding 'equanimity' and morality-proper ensure you are NOT doing any of the above.

Veritas Aequitas wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 8:26 am

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 7:34 am

Veritas Aequitas wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 3:23 am
Hitler could have felt happy, joyful and contented when he killed 6 million Jews and so did his ardent followers plus more so by many Muslims. All the above are ultimately fleeting.

Who cares about Hitler? He was a monster and he's dead. Doesn't change my perspective on contentment. No idea what that has to do with anything.

Means that you could have felt contented after what you have done like what Hitler did or you have committed certain evil acts, like torture, rape and kill a baby for pleasure??
Adding 'equanimity' and morality-proper ensure you are NOT doing any of the above.

So is your argument that if someone seeks contentment then they must be like Hitler? What does Hitler have to do with anything?

Atla wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:38 pm I don't have much to add to the title. For the longest time I suspected that happiness mattered more, but now I no longer know. Your thoughts?

The one that matters most is the one that fits the individual’s proclivities for the ride to the inevitable, sooner-or-later destination, which is Peace of Mind.

Atla wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 6:43 am I'm considering this philosophy now:

They can't really be compared or ranked, happiness and contentment both matter and both are pursued.
Happiness has to do with other people and external things, not possible without them.
Contentment is internal.

So that would make me fairly unhappy and fairly content.

I settled on another philosophy: happiness has to do with actively positive, happy feelings, experiences. Contentment has to do with decreasing negative things, decreasing suffering. Both are important and needed, but ultimately happiness matters more, is primary/more fundamental.

Hm that would explain why I dislike Buddhism despite agreeing with a whole lot of their other views.

Atla wrote: ↑Sun Jul 27, 2025 5:15 am

Atla wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 6:43 am I'm considering this philosophy now:

They can't really be compared or ranked, happiness and contentment both matter and both are pursued.
Happiness has to do with other people and external things, not possible without them.
Contentment is internal.

So that would make me fairly unhappy and fairly content.

I settled on another philosophy: happiness has to do with actively positive, happy feelings, experiences. Contentment has to do with decreasing negative things, decreasing suffering. Both are important and needed, but ultimately happiness matters more, is primary/more fundamental.

Hm that would explain why I dislike Buddhism despite agreeing with a whole lot of their other views.

Happiness would be nice but contentment is more realistic. We're fortunate if we're content.

Or I suppose I should say that I'm fortunate when I'm content. Maybe I can't speak for everyone, I don't know.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jul 28, 2025 1:14 pm
Happiness would be nice but contentment is more realistic. We're fortunate if we're content.

You may be right.

There used to be a popular advertising slogan ... The Best Milk Comes From Contented Cows.

From that came the saying, Contented As A Hindu Cow. (nothing to fear)

Do you like milk?

Walker wrote: ↑Mon Jul 28, 2025 2:25 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jul 28, 2025 1:14 pm
Happiness would be nice but contentment is more realistic. We're fortunate if we're content.

You may be right.

There used to be a popular advertising slogan ... The Best Milk Comes From Contented Cows.

Do you like milk?

Yes.

Breakfast of Champions.

Walker wrote: ↑Mon Jul 28, 2025 2:27 pm Breakfast of Champions.

Indeed.

When determining "what matters more", in my experience it becomes obvious through it's absence, not it's presence. IOW, happiness without contentment vs contentment without happiness. I'll take the latter.

LuckyR wrote: ↑Mon Jul 28, 2025 4:09 pm When determining "what matters more", in my experience it becomes obvious through it's absence, not it's presence. IOW, happiness without contentment vs contentment without happiness. I'll take the latter.

I took it that the original inquiry of happiness vs contentment was based on the idea that contentment and happiness represen t a spectrum where contentment is less happiness and happiness is most content. However, perhaps it is misleading because we might call someone "content" with misery as opposed to living horribly.

LuckyR wrote: ↑Mon Jul 28, 2025 4:09 pm When determining "what matters more", in my experience it becomes obvious through it's absence, not it's presence. IOW, happiness without contentment vs contentment without happiness. I'll take the latter.

Hmm I'll take the former.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jul 28, 2025 4:38 pm

LuckyR wrote: ↑Mon Jul 28, 2025 4:09 pm When determining "what matters more", in my experience it becomes obvious through it's absence, not it's presence. IOW, happiness without contentment vs contentment without happiness. I'll take the latter.

I took it that the original inquiry of happiness vs contentment was based on the idea that contentment and happiness represen t a spectrum where contentment is less happiness and happiness is most content. However, perhaps it is misleading because we might call someone "content" with misery as opposed to living horribly.

Well, I don't disagree that happiness is a higher high than contentment. But to me contentment is where you are chronically, ie at baseline. Happiness is something you experience acutely ie briefly/episodically. So for me I'd rather be content 95% of the time and miss out on awesome 5% of the time. Obviously both choices are bad, but being uneasy 95% of the time with awesome 5% of the time is worse in my opinion.

Atla wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2025 6:38 pm I don't have much to add to the title. For the longest time I suspected that happiness mattered more, but now I no longer know. Your thoughts?

To be content is to be satisfied with what is experienced or held. For the sake of sanity, contentment is better. To become happy may require ambition and motivation. For the sake of progress, happiness is better.