Contentedness precedes happiness
Some interesting, if not flawed, insight from Victor McCampbell:
“It seems clear to me now that contentedness is something superior in nature to happiness. That is, as happiness in a purely pleasurable sense (in contrast to an Aristotilian sense of happiness as a sort of utility of one’s doing their work, and doing it well).
There is an outright advantage contentedness has over this type of happiness: it seems to be a sort of telos or end, wheras happiness is only a means to an end. This is also seen in the sense that a person who is content is a person who is happy being content in their current state. For how could a person be content who was not happy with their present lot in life?
On the other hand, it is possible to imagine a person who is happy but not content. We admire celebrities because we envy their wealth and their good hand in life, but we fail to realize that these celebrities go on making movie after movie, buying house after house, even marrying spouse after spouse, and all to what end? Surely they are happy with their wealth yet not content in it, for then they wouldn’t seek more.
Therefore, contentedness is superior, for it is an end. Contentedness seems only subservient to happiness because happiness is required to be content - yet this is deceiving: one can be content and have happiness only in the sense that they are happy in their contentedness. This is an extreme example of a contented person, yes, but it illustrates with more clarity the superiority of contentedness.”
December 5th, 2004 at 6:30 am
I agree! Therefore, I’m venturing into the peak of mountains, meditate, and become a monk and follow the teaching of Budha.
Anyhow, I guess I’m screwed then…I will never be content at this rate. But then I can’t be content at where I am, because that would mean that I will never improve myself…but will I improve myself for the better or will I only improve myself to achieve particular goals only to find myself wanting higher goals afterward. Oh well, just shoot me now before my rollercoaster of life goes any lower.
Anyways, David, I’m happy that you are starting to post comments on our blogs now. That’s really good! You’ve got to be more social and keep us updated and keep in touch. Talk to you later buddy.