Attense's Final Blog Post

Does Philosophy Make Us Happy?

This is a flawed question, in that it's too broad. Which philosophy? Which definition of 'happiness’? Who knows, but for now let’s say by “philosophy” we mean “philosophizing”- that is, the act of asking ‘why’ to reach a deeper layer of premise- and by “happiness” we mean “spiritual fullness, contentment, tranquility, and positive vibrancy”. If those meanings still feel too broad… then too bad.

So does philosophizing lead to positive vibrancy? Maybe. I’d say so, but only to a point.

Circumstances (social, economic, etc) have huge part to play in whether people feel an allowance or leisure to feed their positive vibrancy, to entertain in, to do the things they enjoy, to let themselves be at ease. And modern circumstances carry behind them modern causes. The one unhappy with an unstable or poor-paying career choice may have bad luck to thank, or he may have new industry innovations, competitive foreign labor markets, or low product demand to thank. The one unhappy with a toxic relationship may have bad luck to thank, or he may have transference, self-esteem issues, or deep-rooted ideological value differences to thank. Seeing these broader forces requires an inquiry to theory that reaches through the face-value and asks “why?”. The degree of broad perspective and delayed gratification necessary to be economically and relationally fruitful in the modern world demands some degree of philosophy.

However, the story doesn’t end there. The metastory may be stacked in the philosopher’s favor, but the momentary, daily struggle doesn’t lend itself to an ever-churning destroy-build-destroy of epistemic humility. On the contrary, it rewards faith and confidence, working within a philosophized path in order to not need philosophy for each step. Everyone is familiar with the stereotype of the anxious overthinker; an example is Chidi Anagonye from The Good Place experiences an arc of growth where he comes to terms with his own vice of indecision due to overanalysis, especially regarding which bagels to buy. The flaw of philosophy is in assuming that every action of high stakes merits recurring high thoughts. Some things, like what to eat for breakfast, are best left to common sense and experience (the authority of which are ultimately taken on faith), and then cemented into a meta-structure of habit, routine, and truism-wisdom.

And the thing that some would argue is the highest stakes enterprise of all- that of mindfulness and spirituality- is explicitly anti-thought in nature. We knew that implicit in thought was subject since Descartes, therefore the only road to (true complete) no self in any given moment is no thought. So if meditation practice and happiness are at all linked (listen to any Joe Rogan, Tim Ferris, or Sam Harris for an affirmative), then we have at least one primary example in the bucket of philosophy working against happiness.

So what advice do we give to the happiness-seeking potential philosopher? Philosophize, but not too much. The big, broad, abstract questions, life perspectives and commitments, are all things that merit philosophical layer-digging. The daily minuscules, though… perhaps don’t. Sometimes it’s best to just breathe and smell the roses.

Does Philosophy Make Us Sad?

Some interesting surveys and studies