On 'happiness', in answer to Ivan's comment.
Ivan wrote:
Happiness, in itself is a silly, giddy thing. Rather it's the "pursuit" of happiness that's of value. Imagine a life engaged in the pursuit of misery.
Ivan Sherman
Yes, I think that is a valid point Ivan, that a life in pursuit of happiness can be defined as more successful than one that becomes complacent upon accomplishing some pre-defined state of happiness. I think a good analogy to the concept among artists like you and I, is my belief that if an artist ever manages to define his inner vision perfectly on his canvas, it becomes time for him to do something other than paint. In other words: it is the element of experimentation, of striving for the indefinable aesthetic, that keeps an artist's work live. Making the opposite true, i.e.- an artist who knows precisely what his painting will look like before he begins produces- dead paintings.
Your idea reminds me of a quote by someone brilliant (who I can't place in my memory to attribute properly) who said: "The only true happiness a man experiences is in the fantasy of future happiness." This is proven by the fact that whenever we do achieve the object of our fantasy we generate a new fantasy of future happiness.
I don't however, agree with the last part of your statement, "Imagine a life in the pursuit of misery" it might be difficult for men such as you & I to imagine a life such as that, but I think it is not so unusual for people to do just that, most, I think, without realising it.
It is interesting and valid to define the terms of our dialogue in this Socratic manner but I think nothing has been said about the term 'happiness' that conflicts with my statement that a successful life is not measured in quantity or even quality of happiness but rather, in the more mature ability to appreciate the drama offered by the range of emotional possibility our lives present. I will close by offering another quote from my book (Life is Good Even when it's Not) as an example: when enough time has passed- "...I know when I look back, that I cherish the memory of a broken heart alongside the joy I remember at seducing the woman who broke it. Both are examples of living deeply. It is about drama."
Happiness, in itself is a silly, giddy thing. Rather it's the "pursuit" of happiness that's of value. Imagine a life engaged in the pursuit of misery.
Ivan Sherman
Yes, I think that is a valid point Ivan, that a life in pursuit of happiness can be defined as more successful than one that becomes complacent upon accomplishing some pre-defined state of happiness. I think a good analogy to the concept among artists like you and I, is my belief that if an artist ever manages to define his inner vision perfectly on his canvas, it becomes time for him to do something other than paint. In other words: it is the element of experimentation, of striving for the indefinable aesthetic, that keeps an artist's work live. Making the opposite true, i.e.- an artist who knows precisely what his painting will look like before he begins produces- dead paintings.
Your idea reminds me of a quote by someone brilliant (who I can't place in my memory to attribute properly) who said: "The only true happiness a man experiences is in the fantasy of future happiness." This is proven by the fact that whenever we do achieve the object of our fantasy we generate a new fantasy of future happiness.
I don't however, agree with the last part of your statement, "Imagine a life in the pursuit of misery" it might be difficult for men such as you & I to imagine a life such as that, but I think it is not so unusual for people to do just that, most, I think, without realising it.
It is interesting and valid to define the terms of our dialogue in this Socratic manner but I think nothing has been said about the term 'happiness' that conflicts with my statement that a successful life is not measured in quantity or even quality of happiness but rather, in the more mature ability to appreciate the drama offered by the range of emotional possibility our lives present. I will close by offering another quote from my book (Life is Good Even when it's Not) as an example: when enough time has passed- "...I know when I look back, that I cherish the memory of a broken heart alongside the joy I remember at seducing the woman who broke it. Both are examples of living deeply. It is about drama."
posted by Paul Herman | 2:21 PM
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1 Comments:
Of course you’re right! That’s what we human beings do. We’re story makers. We can take anything and weave it into drama. The flaw I find in this theory though, is that we make drama of our lives even while laying abed brooding about how boring our lives may be.
I know. I’ve done it.
In more lucid moments, I think that life is about doing. I can imagine what I’m going to do on that piece of paper, or indeed, with that beautiful woman. But I don’t have authentic drama till I start doing.
Of course, sometimes it's easier for me to just lay in bed.
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