Who is happier, people who live thinking happiness is possible in this life or people who live thinking ..?

Question

and expecting happiness guaranteed after bodily death in an afterlife?

My Q is based on my reading a 1960 paperback book in philosophy that examines and compares religious themes in the philosophies and thoughts of six(6) philosophers: Spinoza,Hume,Kant,Nietzche,Wil... James, & Santayana

PS: More Q's like this one will follow this one as I explore their Q's and their reasoned answers as well as the A's I get in response to my Q's.

The issues involving happiness what it is and how it is attained can be traced back to the philosophical thinking of Aristotle and Plato/ Socrates, and to Confucious, Buddha, & Jesus, to name only a few of the many who have pondered what happiness is.

TWH 06102007-1

Of course there are people who believe in both happiness here and now and later too. But that is not the Q I asked. Put the emphasis on how people who live thinking one way or the other and then use it as the guiding basis of their decisions and actions n this life. Answerers please try to work within the parameters of the Q if you can.

Killing innocents by committing suicide using oneself as a weapon of terrorism is a pathological act. To cite it here is a stretch in a direction which the Q never intended. People who commit Terrorism-by-suicide are in my view insane and a deeply disturbed minority of extremists. They have lost all love for this life turning to the afterlife stories of paradise in their religion to justify their immoral actions. But again these comments are really about a perverse tangent that considers happiness secondary to other desires and objectives. I'd prefer to put it aside here and stay focused on my philosophy Q. The issue of terrorism-by-suicide for a religious or political ideology would be an interesting topic to explore but in its own Q. TWH 06102007-1

I notice alot of people trying to define happiness or scope out how to be or become happy and while such efforts may be related to some aspects of the Q, they are not directly addressing the Q I have asked. The expiration period will be extended to give everyone time to clarify, amend or extend their answers using the edit feature. Thanks all. TWH 06102007-5

Ive read Gurdieff and his pupil Ouspensky, both are theosophists and I have concluded they are often vague and hard to understand. I prefer the philosophies of traditional philosophers who think critically about their subjects and try to explain clearly, coherently and as completely as possible their ideas with philosophical arguments for and/or against certain conclusions, theories, and any statements they happen to make. Kant, Descartes, Hume, and Locke and Plato in particular are all good examples of this way of asking the Big Questions about ourselves, other selves, God and the universe that we all think about between the beginning point of our individual consciousnesses and the final end points of our lives on Planet Earth. TWH 06102007-6

BTW I posted the same Q in the Religion & Spirituality category and there other answers there to look at.

sidebar note: The atheist existentialist Jean Paul Satre famously said in one of his plays "Hell is other people." And don't think or I doubt he was a happy camper when he thought or said that line..

Either-or type of Q helps to draw out the differences between the two groups. One can do so much with a Q box with a 110 character limit. Added details explain the context behind the Q and sometimes is used by me the asker to address specific concerns of some answerers- like the one beauhonkus just posted.

beau you have nor asked any Q's of your own and you nitpick the Q or criticize the asker to what purpose. Try asking your own Q's and followthrough by picking the best A from the ones you get. You might then learn how askers feel facing the kinds of "reservations" and "observations" you appear to include frequently in your answers. TWH 06102007-11

beau has been blocked out of my universe because he resorts to name-calling, Q-carping and other ad hominem stmts and he does not try to answer the Q since he lacks the philosophical language and knowledge necessary to do so. Any one who thinks famous dead philosophers are a joke ought to quit posting in the philosophy section until they study up on the great conversation that goes back to the beginnings of the recorded history of ideas.. TWH 06122007-1

Answer 1

people who believe that they can achieve happiness in the life after death i.e. future, will certainly believe that they can achieve happiness in this life too which is also future, as belief in future's (afterlife's) happiness gives them hope that they can be happy in the future of this life too.

Answer 2

I believe the answer lies in those with nothing that we would-in our collective intelligence- associate with happiness. History is generous with the lives and deaths of martyrs for our edification.people "of whom the world was not worthy" living and dying with smiles on their faces. The comparison needs to be made against people persecuted to death with no expectation of an afterlife. I would anticipate that believers would the happier group--well noted, heeltap, but I prefer the arrangement the way it is. I can control my degree of involvement precisely this way. I am intrigued by the perverse social service YA performs.It rarely has to do with Q & A more a game or camradery

Answer 3

A contemporary example of someone who believes in happiness in the afterlife is the suicide killer. In taking out as many people as possible in the here, they believe it leads to Heaven and all their wishes fulfilled in the hereafter.

So, I guess that the suicide killer is not real happy now.

On the other hand, people who believe happiness is possoble now, usually find it to some extent or another.

Answer 4

I believe happiness is a state of mind and heart. When you let your desires/egos go. What are Egos, if not just the fears that we have build in our personality through the years, in this and other lifetimes. When we let them go, we are free, and freedom means happiness. I'm sure that book you have read mentions it. I recommend Outspensky & Gurdjieff, they are good too, and describe what you are asking in a very thorough way. Philosophical and Psychological. Good Luck!

Answer 5

people who live thinking happiness! Trust me i know a lot of people including myself who have depression. And almost all of them are cursed with thinking too much. Once you have thought enough you cen become so sane to the point people actually think your insane. This is because perfection is impossible to acheive and by trying to think about how to get there you only screw yourself and your personality up.
And in the process of thinking so much realise how life doesnt make any sense at all thus making you really pissed the **** off.

Answer 6

People who think and expect happiness is guaranteed after bodily death are more content because they accept the fact that there is suffering in this world.

Those who live thinking happiness is possible in this life are deluding themselves and will never be satisfied.

The happiest are those who take good and bad and remain optimistic.

Answer 7

I'm not sure people can expect to be happy in an afterlife if they choose not to experience happiness in this life. You can choose to be happy or not by what you dwell on in this life. I don't believe people who sacrifice everything including happiness in this life for the hope of a happy afterlife are quite sane as THIS is what we have right now....no guarantees of what's to follow.
But to strictly adhere to your guideline....happiness in this life.

Answer 8

The people who are happy now having a sense of knowing that they willl be happy in the afterlife.
- there's some philosophy for u

Answer 9

Happiness is a choice. Especially for those who think too much for their own good. Stupidity can be a blessing, but for those with more brains than they know what to do with...choosing peace and happiness is a far better choice than bitter, perpetual sarcasm.

Answer 10

Afterlife conceptualizations lack any logic. Unfortunately, people due to their fears are quick to accept any information without any scrutiny. Critical thinking is a learned skill.