Life is about survival. Once you've figured that out and you have the want and time then sure pursue happiness.
Modern generations think it's priority one because things are a lot easier now. They don't realize that we're 1 significant world war or natural disaster from having to find fresh water and hunt.
Let the Internet, water supply, or electricity go out nationwide for a week or two and see if happiness is still the first priority.
You do know what a right is, ye? It means something you are permitted by default? The right to the pursuit of happiness doesn't mean "Eh, once you're 65 and all your best labor years are behind you, maybe you can try and be happy in life." The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness means that it should be the goal of a nation that your right to try to live in a way that makes you happy be as universally permitted as your right to live at all. To say otherwise is thinking in reverse.
But I'm getting the feeling I'm talking to this sub's subject, not its intended audience.
I'm just telling you what life is about. Survival.
Also the founding fathers aren't the end all be all. Just 7 old white dudes that would have thought I was a slave. That's also in a document written for one country on the planet.
My advice works for ANYONE ANYWHERE. Not just Americans.
We all need food, water, and shelter to (wait for it...) SURVIVE.
You can not live off of happiness. It is secondary. Once you have figured out how to survive then and only then do you get a chance at pursuing happiness.
Lol this is why depression, anxiety, and suicide rates are so high. You all think life is about happiness so when you find out that it's not you don't know how to move forward.
You need a significant other, you need children, you need to work, you need to be a productive member of society. Happiness is optional.
This guy's comments scream of "I was forced to live this way so everyone else needs to as well". Probably secretly gets angry when he sees someone younger who's happy with life and living just fine, so the only way he can cope is by doubling down that he's right and they're wrong.
I'm retired in my early 30s and happy. My wife and children are happy. The animals on my Ranch are happy. All because I knew that life was about survival.
This is what I'm talking about. You are in that position because capitalism was good to you. Plenty of people work as hard as you did and end up way worse than you.
I'm disabled and my life is shit. If there was no happiness in my life I'd rather be dead. For a lot of people happiness is what makes life worth living, surviving just for the sake of living Is misery.
Happiness is the light at the end of the tunnel to head towards. Obviously survival is along that path but it's not the only goal. I'm fully willing to concede that in a vacuum the primary goal of life is survival but it's ridiculous to imply it's the only one that matters. Haven't you heard of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?
Okay. Capitalism was good. Let's say that is true. It doesn't change my argument.
You being disabled is not the norm. Your life and perspective is not the norm. As a whole ir doesn't really matter. We use the majority to give things not the few exceptions l.
We literally exist to find a mate, reproduce, and raise offspring.
We don't exist for any reason, we just do. Based on our instincts we do have a desire to further the survival of our species and to not die. I don't really see that as a purpose, it's just instincts. you can't do anything else if you're dead so obviously it's the first priority but that doesn't make it the purpose. Humans are Sapient, we're able to consider things more than just survival, that's what makes us unique. We can do more with our lives than just exist. I'll take it you're not very philosophical but humans are a lot more complex than you're giving us credit for.
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u/Bright_Appearance390 Apr 10 '24
Because life is about survival and not happiness. That used to be a well known thing. Not so much now.