X-Message-Number: 30146
From: 
Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:23:00 EST
Subject: satisfaction

DSS wrote in part:

>The  major point is that attempts to maximize happiness levels are   
>doomed, because happiness functions more as feedback to guide   
>behavior, then as a useful outcome measure over the long run.  There  
>are other indicators that try to measure "well being" that  are much  
>more useful for comparing states of the individual.  "Happiness" is  
>considered, by most researchers, to be more of a  personality trait.  
>Change, thus, would have to be a result of  fundamental  
>transformations in the self and  society.




I usually prefer the term "satisfaction" rather than happiness or pleasure  

etc. People often say that their goal is not pleasure or happiness, but I have
never heard anyone say he would prefer dissatisfaction to satisfaction. (All  
right, even here you could argue that we sometimes want a temporary  

dissatisfaction as an incentive to seek something more, a trivial example being

playing a game. We want the satisfaction of overcoming dissatisfaction.  Even 
so, I 
think that long-term or overall satisfaction is currently a  reasonable rough 
statement of an individual's basic criterion for action.)
 
Again,
 
>Change, thus, would have to be a result of  fundamental  
>transformations in the self and  society.

This completely bypasses the main point, which is what  (I, you, he, she) 

should do right now out of the choices available. The whole  point of any valid
philosophy is how to optimize your personal future. Is it  possible that the 

main effort of an individual should be to try to effect social  change? I think
not for any reasonable person. To change oneself? Yes,  and deciding how best 
that can be done is the primary problem. Part of  the solution is direct and 
relatively simple, to participate in cryonics and  work to promote it in 
practical ways.
 
Robert Ettinger  



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