Comments on: (Can’t Get No) Satisfaction http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/ books, essays, columns, reviews, and multimedia clips of famed skeptic Michael Shermer Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:36:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Post-show happy links (actually, more like, during-show links…) « Q Transmissions http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/comment-page-1/#comment-2707 Post-show happy links (actually, more like, during-show links…) « Q Transmissions Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:51:19 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/#comment-2707 [...] her website here. Please note that this episode will be posted to the website Monday morning. http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/ - Michael Shermer writes about happiness http://cep.lse.ac.uk/events/lectures/layard/RL030303.pdf - [...] [...] her website here. Please note that this episode will be posted to the website Monday morning. http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/ – Michael Shermer writes about happiness http://cep.lse.ac.uk/events/lectures/layard/RL030303.pdf – [...]

]]> By: Kenneth H. Bonnell http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/comment-page-1/#comment-1542 Kenneth H. Bonnell Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:51:20 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/#comment-1542 I am presently in a "retirement home" in which I have very little contact with other inhabitants. I do get out to attend Atheists United and Freethinkers Toastmasters meetings at the Center For Inquiry-Los Angeles. My three offspring and their families live at fairly great distances, so getting to visit with them does not occur often. My daughter and my younger son have taken me out for lunch two or three times each since my being here. My older son, who lives in Castaic, CA, works in the far end of the San Fernando Valley, so I don't get to see him as often. I am a stranger to my young grandsons by my two sons. There is a grandson, who is in his twenties, who is a computer whiz, and I see him whenever I have a computer problem; but we have no really social relationship. I am often depressed, thinking about my late life companion, with whom I lived for twenty-six years. She was a wonderful woman, interested in education, fine music, and world travel. I do have the companionship of lhasa apso dog that we named Ping Pong, after two of thee three advisors to Queen Turandot of Pucchini's opera. I am presently in a “retirement home” in which I have very little contact with other inhabitants. I do get out to attend Atheists United and Freethinkers Toastmasters meetings at the Center For Inquiry-Los Angeles. My three offspring and their families live at fairly great distances, so getting to visit with them does not occur often. My daughter and my younger son have taken me out for lunch two or three times each since my being here. My older son, who lives in Castaic, CA, works in the far end of the San Fernando Valley, so I don’t get to see him as often. I am a stranger to my young grandsons by my two sons. There is a grandson, who is in his twenties, who is a computer whiz, and I see him whenever I have a computer problem; but we have no really social relationship.
I am often depressed, thinking about my late life companion, with whom I lived for twenty-six years. She was a wonderful woman, interested in education, fine music, and world travel. I do have the companionship of lhasa apso dog that we named Ping Pong, after two of thee three advisors to Queen Turandot of Pucchini’s opera.

]]> By: Trevor http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/comment-page-1/#comment-1385 Trevor Wed, 21 May 2008 10:55:15 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/#comment-1385 For me, having a purpose in life is my key to happiness. But I do believe that contentment is perhaps a better goal. As someone that earns much closer to $50,000/year, I'd be more than happy to give everyone $250,000/year and take $100,000/year for myself. But that wouldn't necessarily make me happier. It would just make paying for my daughters' dance classes much easier. For me, having a purpose in life is my key to happiness. But I do believe that contentment is perhaps a better goal. As someone that earns much closer to $50,000/year, I’d be more than happy to give everyone $250,000/year and take $100,000/year for myself. But that wouldn’t necessarily make me happier. It would just make paying for my daughters’ dance classes much easier.

]]> By: Thomas A Vance http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/comment-page-1/#comment-1379 Thomas A Vance Tue, 20 May 2008 23:12:25 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/#comment-1379 Happy I think is a misnomer. The real word is content. I find that being content with oneself and ones surroundings engenders a feeling of peace and security that goes beyond happy. That dosen't mean I won't better myself or my situation but can also find contentment in good change. Happy I think is a misnomer. The real word is content.
I find that being content with oneself and ones surroundings
engenders a feeling of peace and security that goes beyond happy. That dosen’t mean I won’t better myself or my situation but can also find contentment in good change.

]]> By: Niels Hovmoller http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/comment-page-1/#comment-1309 Niels Hovmoller Wed, 14 May 2008 23:44:38 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/#comment-1309 The only thing we can feel is change, so an improvement in wages, relations, repect, health etc etc will make us happier - for a short while. My first computer with a 16K RAM made me very happy; my present one, a thousand times faster and more capable does not do that for me. If a cancer patient is told that he has two years to live, it will make him happy if the doctor used to tell him that he would die within a year, and miserable if he did not know he was dying. My grandchildren make me happy, but would they do that if they were arrested in their development at the stage where they are now, which is a very charming one? Niels Hovmoller, Stockholm, Sweden The only thing we can feel is change, so an improvement in wages, relations, repect, health etc etc will make us happier – for a short while. My first computer with a 16K RAM made me very happy; my present one, a thousand times faster and more capable does not do that for me. If a cancer patient is told that he has two years to live, it will make him happy if the doctor used to tell him that he would die within a year, and miserable if he did not know he was dying. My grandchildren make me happy, but would they do that if they were arrested in their development at the stage where they are now, which is a very charming one?
Niels Hovmoller, Stockholm, Sweden

]]> By: Brian http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/comment-page-1/#comment-1308 Brian Wed, 14 May 2008 20:48:48 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/#comment-1308 It would be interesting to study the evolution of the idea of "happiness" in human history. While the above piece distinguishes happiness from pleasure, the Greek Epicurus did not, using the word "pleasure" (regarded as the highest good) to mean not excess, indulgence or ecstasy, but simplicity, virtue and contentment (ataraxia = peace of mind). Brian Zimmer/Ontario, Canada It would be interesting to study the evolution of the idea of “happiness” in human history. While the above piece distinguishes happiness from pleasure, the Greek Epicurus did not, using the word “pleasure” (regarded as the highest good) to mean not excess, indulgence or ecstasy, but simplicity, virtue and contentment (ataraxia = peace of mind). Brian Zimmer/Ontario, Canada

]]> By: Carl Bauer http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/comment-page-1/#comment-1307 Carl Bauer Wed, 14 May 2008 20:19:20 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/#comment-1307 I thought we have long ago determined that happiness/satisfaction, ergo VALUES are conclusively and totally existential, i.e. clones of the principle of "Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder". Having read "The Mind of the Market", I perceive this issue to be redundantly flaggelated by none other than our patron Shermer. Carl Bauer, Prescott Valley, AZ I thought we have long ago determined that happiness/satisfaction, ergo VALUES are conclusively and totally existential, i.e. clones of the principle of “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder”.
Having read “The Mind of the Market”, I perceive this issue to be redundantly flaggelated by none other than our patron Shermer.
Carl Bauer, Prescott Valley, AZ

]]> By: Aaron Moss http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/comment-page-1/#comment-1306 Aaron Moss Wed, 14 May 2008 18:02:03 +0000 http://www.michaelshermer.com/2007/03/satisfaction/#comment-1306 I love reading articles like this. I believe they are a good example of how we ought to think scientifically about everything. I thank you, Aaron I love reading articles like this. I believe they are a good example of how we ought to think scientifically about everything.

I thank you,
Aaron

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