Happy pills

Benj96 May 02, 2021 at 15:56 1150 views 3 comments General Philosophy

I’ve been watching brave new world recently and actually it does posit a striking question. Suppose there was a convenient pill with absolutely no side effects that made everyone happy/ content. Would we all be better off taking it?

So I have several reasons for and against said pill.
For: no war/ diminished crime, improved mental health, no bullying, scathing criticisms, abuse, increased life satisfaction etc etc
But against you have; global systemic drug abuse, decreased competition and innovation, decreased fear/ stress based constructive behaviours, restricted self expression, demonisation of negative emotions, inability to process negative emotions, ignorance of anything less than ideal, living essentially in a hedonistic fallacy.

So in essence is it better that someone is happy with little drive/ ambition or that they’re constantly unsatisfied but driven and motivated?

Comments (3)

James Riley May 02, 2021 at 16:10 ¶ #530529 0 likes

Quoting Benj96

So in essence is it better that someone is happy with little drive/ ambition or that they’re constantly unsatisfied but driven and motivated?

1. Is the pill a choice?
2. I think it depends upon what constitutes better, and to whom? Which one of these options will lead to enhanced biodiversity and a smaller human footprint on the Earth?

Pfhorrest May 02, 2021 at 17:46 ¶ #530577 0 likes

False dilemma as already demonstrated IRL. Negative emotions can reduce motivation and positive ones increase it. Just look at depressed people who can’t even make themselves get out of bed, or manic people who ACCOMPLISH ALL THE THINGS RIGHT NOW. Imagine a pill that made you just ever so slightly on the manic side... always feelin kinda good and down to get some shit done.

Benj96 May 02, 2021 at 18:05 ¶ #530584 0 likes

Quoting Pfhorrest

False dilemma as already demonstrated IRL.

Im inclined to agree in the sense of relativity. For example if the spectrum of achievement is 0-100% ie from sad, depressed and impotent to satisfied with a deep sense of purpose we would say someone operating at 50% is the average. But if we give everyone a pill that makes them work at 90% then we have simply exchanged 0-100 for 90-100 in which 95 % is the average. Then someone giving 90% is seen as weak and impotent and undriven.

It seems that whatever the minimum is ... we will always shun it and expect more. In that respect no pill would every make us satisfied it would simply augment our perception of what level is deemed sufficient and acceptable