Comments on: Happiness Begets Happiness; And What it Means for Conflict Resolution http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/2009/11/happiness-begets-happiness-and-what-it-means-for-conflict-resolution/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:58:38 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: How to Donate your Money? | SpreadingHappiness.org http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/2009/11/happiness-begets-happiness-and-what-it-means-for-conflict-resolution/comment-page-1/#comment-337 How to Donate your Money? | SpreadingHappiness.org Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:58:53 +0000 http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/?p=416#comment-337 [...] for example if this triggers the developed countries to spend more for good causes (see happiness begets happiness). In other words, happiness – which is usually an end in itself – can also be a means [...] [...] for example if this triggers the developed countries to spend more for good causes (see happiness begets happiness). In other words, happiness – which is usually an end in itself – can also be a means [...]

]]> By: Cantrian http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/2009/11/happiness-begets-happiness-and-what-it-means-for-conflict-resolution/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Cantrian Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:23:56 +0000 http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/?p=416#comment-182 I apologise for questioning your theory yet again. However, I find it difficult to follow your conclusions. The attempt to convince both parties to neglect the past, seems to be a very tempting thought when it comes to conflict resolution. The question is, whether this is actually possible, be it in regards to Palestine and Israel or any other conflict. First of all, there needs to be the wish to reconcile on either side, otherwise every attempt to pacify the conflict is in vain. I hope you do agree that the longer a conflict has been going on, the more difficult it is to resolve. Therefore, I believe your rather simplistic suggestion to pacify by simply disregarding what has happened so far, is merely an utopian thought than actually a suggestion. Since territorial and human losses result in hatred, which builds up over the years and which is most times passed on from generation to generation, the chances to reconcile two parties by the attempt of wiping out the past has seldomly been successful. Since a relationship between two parties builds up over a certain amount of time, the quality of this relationship manifests itself by the actions of each party. If there's not a major change which rearranges the balance of power, a reconciliation seems to be in the distant future. I apologise for questioning your theory yet again. However, I find it difficult to follow your conclusions. The attempt to convince both parties to neglect the past, seems to be a very tempting thought when it comes to conflict resolution. The question is, whether this is actually possible, be it in regards to Palestine and Israel or any other conflict. First of all, there needs to be the wish to reconcile on either side, otherwise every attempt to pacify the conflict is in vain. I hope you do agree that the longer a conflict has been going on, the more difficult it is to resolve. Therefore, I believe your rather simplistic suggestion to pacify by simply disregarding what has happened so far, is merely an utopian thought than actually a suggestion.
Since territorial and human losses result in hatred, which builds up over the years and which is most times passed on from generation to generation, the chances to reconcile two parties by the attempt of wiping out the past has seldomly been successful. Since a relationship between two parties builds up over a certain amount of time, the quality of this relationship manifests itself by the actions of each party. If there’s not a major change which rearranges the balance of power, a reconciliation seems to be in the distant future.

]]> By: Nick http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/2009/11/happiness-begets-happiness-and-what-it-means-for-conflict-resolution/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Nick Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:01:01 +0000 http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/?p=416#comment-181 Hi Cantrian, thank you for your good comment. I can see your point. What I was trying to say is that feelings of happiness or unhappiness are caused in our brain, which of course may get triggered by external factors. If, for instance, somebody hits my head, it is fair to say that he or she was the cause for my unhappiness. However, the actual reason why I feel pain is the interpretation of this information by my brain, which is "hard wired" to do so. While I don't suggest to stop this in general (pain serves a very useful purpose) I do believe that sometimes our brains' interpretations (causing negative feelings) would not be necessary. More about this on future posts. Sorry if I caused confusion. Nick Hi Cantrian,

thank you for your good comment.

I can see your point. What I was trying to say is that feelings of happiness or unhappiness are caused in our brain, which of course may get triggered by external factors. If, for instance, somebody hits my head, it is fair to say that he or she was the cause for my unhappiness. However, the actual reason why I feel pain is the interpretation of this information by my brain, which is “hard wired” to do so. While I don’t suggest to stop this in general (pain serves a very useful purpose) I do believe that sometimes our brains’ interpretations (causing negative feelings) would not be necessary. More about this on future posts.

Sorry if I caused confusion.

Nick

]]> By: Cantrian http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/2009/11/happiness-begets-happiness-and-what-it-means-for-conflict-resolution/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Cantrian Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:07:47 +0000 http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/?p=416#comment-177 Right, I'll tell your hypothesis about the inexistence of "unhappiness per se" to a friend of mine: His girlfriend who is five months pregnant was confronted with the diagnosis, that the fetus is poisoning the mother. The three possible scenarios to be expected are 1) the mother dies and the baby survives 2) the baby dies and the mother survives 3) the baby has to be delivered prematurely and will therefore be disabled as a result. Let's see, what means of interpretation he can use in order to convince him that it is not the cirumstances which cause his 'misfortune'. Right, I’ll tell your hypothesis about the inexistence of “unhappiness per se” to a friend of mine: His girlfriend who is five months pregnant was confronted with the diagnosis, that the fetus is poisoning the mother. The three possible scenarios to be expected are 1) the mother dies and the baby survives 2) the baby dies and the mother survives 3) the baby has to be delivered prematurely and will therefore be disabled as a result. Let’s see, what means of interpretation he can use in order to convince him that it is not the cirumstances which cause his ‘misfortune’.

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