“Two paradoxes of happiness: why you can’t pursue it and why you can’t tell when you’ve found it,” some charming philosophical musings by Ronald de Sousa.
Why the paradoxes followI am a philosophical manic-depressive. As a philosopher, I want to see the world as it really is. I also believe, (and there’s now empirical research to back me on this) that I see things more clearly and truly when I am depressed. So when I’m depressed, I say: Good! Now I see things as they are! and become elated. Which of course depresses me. And so on.
This situation embodies both my paradoxes. First, I cannot pursue the clarity of depression without exposing myself to the stupidity of elation : the pursuit is therefore self-defeating. Second, the happy clarity of depression can only subsist so long as I remain unaware of it : so I can’t both be happy and know that I am. [via UFO Breakfast]
