2007-09-20 05:04:51 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not "trying" anything. Is it possible that I could be openminded and actually interested in other people's viewpoints!?!?
2007-09-20 05:18:37 · update #1
No, happiness is a subjective experience. We can't agree about what it means so what's to be observed? We can't rationalize it either because how can you reason out an experience independent of the experience without being subjective?
We can measure certain chemicals in the blood and waves in the brain which indicate pleasure, but pleasure sensation cannot be equated to happiness, although happiness may involve some pleasure.
2007-09-20 05:13:49 · answer #1 · answered by jaicee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, by measuring brain activity, hormone levels, etc. in people who are experiencing what they define as "happiness" in controlled laboratory conditions.
That's the critical difference between emotional states and your God -- they may both be experienced solely within the mind of the subject, but the emotions produce neurochemical events that can be studied and measured by outside observers, regardless of whether they themselves are feeling happy at the time.
Try again.
2007-09-20 05:10:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Happiness is no more than a word - it is a combination of vocal sounds we have put together to express a concept. It only exists because we have defined it. That makes us the master of happiness, in more ways than one.
Thus, if I say happiness exists, it does. If I say it does not exist, then it doesn't. As I said, it is just a word, not a concrete object or entity.
2007-09-20 05:10:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'm happy. and i seem to get happier as my life goes on. yes i still have trials and hardships. that is life. i love it. i don't think nor would i try to prove the existence of happiness to anyone. just like i won't try to prove the existence of God to anyone. All i can do is live my life the way i do, and if people want what i have i will share it. but i can't prove anything to anyone who already has a preconceived answer in their mind and they just are lying in wait to disagree and argue their point.
2007-09-20 05:12:22 · answer #4 · answered by plastik punk -Bottom Contributor 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Emperical:
Relying on or derived from observation or experiment:
verifiable or provable by means of observation or experiment
Guided by practical experience and not theory
Based on my observation I cannot PROVE that happiness exists. It is a personal experience. I don't REALLY know that you are happy. I can assume that you are happy because you look happy and sound happy, but are you REALLY happy? It's Kinda like a personal experience with God.
2007-09-20 05:14:57 · answer #5 · answered by Kaliko 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Happiness is a state of mind, involving the emotions.
If one can empirically prove thoughts and emotions, then happiness can certainly be proven.
Facial expression is a great indicator.
2007-09-20 05:11:25 · answer #6 · answered by Bobby Jim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You observe people's faces. If they smile and laugh, that is some form of happiness you can observe and document.
If they are not smiling or laughing, it doesn't mean they are not happy, but if they are, unless they're acting, they are experiencing some form of happiness, like mirth or pleasure.
2007-09-20 05:08:41 · answer #7 · answered by Acorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like some else mentioned happiness can be seen and measured with brain scans so yes it can be shown that happiness exists............Unless you choose to ignore science and reason.
2007-09-20 05:16:14 · answer #8 · answered by deztructshun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
*Tries to smile... but it looks more like a snarl*
Damn it.
Maybe it doesn't.
Or maybe you humans and your crazy facial expressions just need a little more work.
In any case though, if you can tell me what happiness is then I can prove it exists.
2007-09-20 05:10:31 · answer #9 · answered by Dire Badger 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
since happiness is a human term to explain certain feelings and perceptions, then yes, by definition, it exists.
2007-09-20 05:11:22 · answer #10 · answered by theflynnmom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋