2006-10-08 15:12:09 · 17 answers · asked by Answerer 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
As you can tell from reading the previous responses, it all depends on what you mean by your question.
As you judge my answer, I'll be happy if I'm right, but I'll be right even if I'm wrong. Keep readin', and you'll see what I mean.
If someone chooses Interpretation #1 below, they would rather be right than happy because they would rather be a responsible person with a strong sense of values than a selfish, self-centered, irresponsible person.
If someone chooses Interpretation #2 below, they would rather be right than happy because they would rather be a selfish, self-centered, irresponsible person than a responsible person with a strong sense of values.
Interpretation #1
Right=conforming to a sense of ethics, morality, or justice. Doing the right thing means being fair and honest and doing worthwhile things.
Happy=always having a good time, being constantly cheerful and entertained, "eating, drinking, and being merry," not letting serious issues worry you. Being happy is fun and games!
With Interpretation #1, I'd rather be "right than President." To be right is to be ethical and just; to always be happy is to be selfish and silly.
Interpretation #2
Right=winning an argument, having facts and reasons in perfect order. Being right is always having the right answer, the last word.
Happy=loving and being loved, getting satisfaction from creative, productive, worthwhile achievement, from working well with others. "I married and lived happily ever after."
With Interpretation #2, I'll choose happy any day even it means I'm proved to be wrong in things I've said and believed, losing one argument after another.
Now, the truth of the matter is that we all would like to be Right #1 and Right #2, Happy #1 and Happy #2--most of the time, if not all the time.
But most of us, most of the time, would choose Right #1 (ethical, honest, just) over Right #2 (winning every argument); and we would choose Happy #2 (loving, satisfied, fulfilled) over Happy #1 (having fun, being cheerful, being entertained).
So it's easy to see why some people would say they'd rather be right than happy all the time, and why other people might say they'd rather be happy than right all the time.
Frankly, I'd rather be Right AND Happy: Right #1 and Happy #2 (just and loving) all the time, and Right #2 and Happy #1 (winning arguments, having fun) whenever they don't interfere with something more important. I try to choose my arguments wisely (and infrequently), and I can live without golf!
Now, depending on what you meant by your question, you can figure out what my Answer is.
I'll be happy if I'm right, but thanks to my family, my friends, and my work, I'll be happy even if I'm wrong. Hmmmm . . . .
2006-10-14 19:46:02 · answer #1 · answered by bfrank 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some people are very proud & need to win an argument, even if it means making their partner & themselves unhappy. Some people have a need to be right. It's about control. This need can outweigh everything, even happiness. Unreasonable perhaps, but there it is. Not that I could relate to this in any way. Oh gosh no, I never argue in relationships. I'm as easygoing as they come...
OK I admit it! I'm a type A personality! I got straight A's in school. I need to be right & I love proving someone wrong! Depending what it is, sometimes I'll just let it go to keep the peace if it's not worth the energy and especially if I realize I'm arguing with an idiot, a brick wall or closedminded nitwit in which case I give up because it's frustrating & utterly futile, but other times I will make my point even if it makes him hate me! There is a certain satisfaction when someone admits you're right and it outweighs the happiness of compromising or not arguing in the first place...
2006-10-08 15:45:43 · answer #2 · answered by amp 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Feeling right rather than guilty, not necessarily in the religious sense, is essential for sustaining happiness. If you believe you are doing something wrong (not necessarily in the religious sense) for some immediate happiness, you can not be happy for long because a feeling of guilt will get you soon enough.
2006-10-08 15:45:53 · answer #3 · answered by small 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Happiness is fleeting, right and wrong are basically forever, we choose which we stand with, then the result of that eventually makes us happy if we do the right things.
2006-10-08 16:05:27 · answer #4 · answered by Friend 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey--no one! I assumed you meant "right" as in: "I'm right & you're wrong," while some of the answers so far are viewing this as DOING right. Am I wrong? (hee hee) If my assumption is correct, being "right" is certainly not high on my priority list. In fact, if I have a strong opinion about something, & someone gives me new insight, I welcome it. I DO think ego is much involved, & maybe being right makes some people "happy."
C'est la vie....
2006-10-08 16:11:30 · answer #5 · answered by Valac Gypsy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As I currently have a sibling dying who is living this question - she'd rather be "right" than happy....I think it is because she is incapable of understanding happiness in any way other than a right/wrong feeling. Autistic people could relate to this - as emotions have no place in their lives and right/wrong is everything.
2006-10-08 15:33:56 · answer #6 · answered by iamofnote 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There is a desire to have or do something that is not acceptable by some code , rule, principle, or even detrimental to another desire !
When the logical mind decides to choose between the material aspect and emotional desire, the material aspect called "Right" is voted for against the emotional desire "happy" !
2006-10-08 16:38:11 · answer #7 · answered by Spiritualseeker 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
doing the right thing makes you happy, it may not be evident right after you did the action, one may not feel at first that there is joy in doing the right thing, we may not appreciate doing the right thing for the sake of others,
but then again, it has a reward, at the right time, it may not be in a tangible form, but the fact that you did the right thing, its worth something.
2006-10-08 15:43:09 · answer #8 · answered by jetlogs 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not a fair question. By 'right' you might mean, 'correct;' you might also mean 'in keeping with ethical theory.'
In my case, for so long as I am concerned with virtue (right) in a world obsessed with entertainment (happy), I will always be unhappy.... and this is how I prefer it. Anything not virtuous disgusts me.
2006-10-08 19:49:36 · answer #9 · answered by mindinsidethecell 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone has a problem ego that always wants to be right because the ego secretly believes it is superior to others and very special. It takes almost a lifetime to learn to be objective to your ego mind and be able to see what it is up to and chose not to listen to it's foolish chattering
2006-10-08 15:55:48 · answer #10 · answered by Sweetie Poo 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋