Coffee & Philosophy: Truth vs Happiness

Truth vs Happiness

We all want to be happy, but we also want to know the truth. This would naturally mean feeling like you know the truth will make you happy. But what if you learn something that, if true, would not allow you to be happy? Do you believe the things you do because it brings you peace and comfort, or because it is true?

I suppose one test is to ask yourself if you are happy with the things you know are true. Do you wish something else were true but just choose not to fool yourself? What are the odds that the things you believe to be true also happen to be things that would make you happy?

Would you rather be a miserable genius or a happy fool?

What should we be doing with the short amount of time that we are here? Should we spend it pursuing truth and enriching our brains that will be fizzling out in a bit? Or is this just rearranging the chairs on the Titanic? Perhaps instead we should try to maximize our pleasure and happiness while we’re still able to experience it? Maybe we should all just try to consume as much heroin and nitrous oxide as we can.

Neither of these seem right, but our purpose in life does seem to boil down to either pursuing truth or pursuing happiness, if not for yourself then for others around you and for the future of humanity. So how do we balance these virtues and what is the most sensible approach?

What are your thoughts? Come pull up a chair, get a drink & pastry with us and join us in a fun and thought-provoking existential meltdown! All views and beliefs welcome. The more diversity of opinions the better.