The Paris Hilton conundrum (bless)

[Faint]

To quote John Webster,

"of all axioms this shall win the prize: 'Tis better to be fortunate than wise."

Do you agree or disagree with this?

Consider two figures,

1) Paris Hilton: Extraordinarily fortunate but not very wise.

2) Edgar Allan Poe: Very wise and intelligent, but not very fortunate.

Who do you think got the better bargain living in this world?

Which life do you think would be more enjoyable?

Do you think having the intelligence to gain incredible wisdom (or being born with a brain with the potential for great wisdom) is more fortunate than being born with incredible luck, looks, wealth, priviledge, prestige, and connections?

Do you think people who are smarter are (in general) happier?

Do you think people with Paris's "gifts" are (in general) happier?

If you could somehow make a deal and trade in your intelligence for an average mind, beauty, wealth, powerful friends, fantastic luck, and a super elite lifestyle would you do it?

Let's say that you're a god, and you like some mother-to-be and you have the power to bless her child with one of two options: intelligence but bad luck, or a mediocre mind with great luck. Which would you grant the child?

Poe has become a literary legend, whereas Paris will likely be forgotten when she's dead. Do you think wisdom recognized and honored posthumously (or in other words, creating an intelligent legacy of work) is more important than living for fun and pleasure in the here and now?

[Inky]

I think the Paris types live happier lives, but I also think that happiness isn't the only thing that contributes to quality of life. The satisfaction of having accomplished something is important, too. Although, doesn't that just mean that being accomplished makes you happy? Can that happiness be replaced by shallow things? It's very confusing.

[Djamila]

I think people who are simple-minded are generally happier. Being even moderately intelligent in today's world can be depressing.

[nutshell]

There are all kinds of people

Intelligent/not fortunate

fortuante/not intelligent

intelligent/fortunate

not intelligent/not fortunate

And any of these groups can or cannot find happines - the characteristics are not necessarily related.

[Flappycat]

I'd trade it all for perseverence.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Djamila

I think people who are simple-minded are generally happier. Being even moderately intelligent in today's world can be depressing.

Not if you take 300mgs of Prozac daily!

[Sunstone]

All things being equal, I think mental health is more important than intelligence for happiness. After all, wasn't Poe bi polar?

[eudaimonia]

Originally Posted by Faint

To quote John Webster,

"of all axioms this shall win the prize: 'Tis better to be fortunate than wise."

Do you agree or disagree with this?

"Better to be Socrates dissatisfied, than a pig satisfied."

Which life do you think would be more enjoyable?

I think that wisdom is enjoyable in a more deeply and fully human way than the surface pleasure one gets from physical comforts. People such as Paris Hilton are not necessarily happier than anyone else -- they are simply more comfortable. That's not the same thing, since comforts don't ease the disquiet in one's psyche. Only wisdom can probe that deep.

Do you think people who are smarter are (in general) happier?

That depends on what they do with their intelligence, but yes, I do.

If you could somehow make a deal and trade in your intelligence for an average mind, beauty, wealth, powerful friends, fantastic luck, and a super elite lifestyle would you do it?

Not a chance.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[Bishka]

I'd choose Poe, but I'd be biased by choosing him. Through adoption on my father's line I am related to Edgar Allan Poe.

I can't remember how, but I know we are somehow.

[indecisive cookies!!!]