Truth or Happiness?

[packbat]

Okay, I can't sleep for wondering how people would answer this, so...

Which do you value more: truth or happiness?

Answer any way you please (though I reserve the right to delete anything obscene).

Comments

[chanlemur.livejournal.com]

In practice, though it shames me to say it, I would often prefer to persist in comfortable illusions than to dwell in truth at all costs. I think I value happiness over truth.

[nanakikun.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I can value one over the other ^_^
for, as I've seen, happiness without truth is a rather hollow and false beast;
while truth without happiness has little in the way of a point, making it roundish as well o_O`

Soo, I would say that if I were picking one of two things to value, I'd put my cash on the existence of value. That way, if I have neither Truth nor Happiness, I can at least evaluate my state function ^^;

[bourgeoisify.livejournal.com]

Truth 100%. I'd rather be unhappy and know what's actually up than be happy and oblivious to the lie.

[noneuklid.livejournal.com]

What kind of happiness? Incohate bliss? Practical satisfaction? Cruel joy? Optimism?

What kind of truth? Accurate physical knowledge? Self-knowledge? Knowing the hearts of others? Groupthink?

Why know the truth if knowing it brings you no satisfaction? Why be satisfied if one knows the satisfaction is illusiory?

In other words, what's the difference?

[crazyinchaos.livejournal.com]

I value happiness more. Truth is all well and good, but at the end of the day, I would hope that the truth would bring me happiness. Happiness wouldn't bring me truth.

Actually ... based on that ... maybe I value truth more...

[ailado.livejournal.com]

My first thought was happiness. I'm not all that confident that truth is all that concrete a thing, in the first place. I don't believe ignorance is bliss, but for the most part I value happiness over knowledge. I've spent the greater part of my life in constant analysis, trying to find that glint of awareness, but it hasn't been terribly rewarding. It only gets one so far. It's what one does with it that matters, I think, not discovery.

BTW, Have you ever heard of pancritical rationalism?

Truth

[explodingbat.livejournal.com]

Much as I'm a fan of Pascal and his wager, seeking only happiness implies solipsism, which is far too dangerously maladaptive in my book.

So happiness by default, I suppose.

[the-zaniak.livejournal.com]

I'm not a big believer in "Truth" as a concept. 1984 knocked that out of me. I can't find the exact quote at the moment, but I'll try to hunt it down.