I recently realised something surprising about myself

[eggy32]

Normally when I have to make a decision I do not let emotions over ride my logical thoughts. I usually think the situation out logically rather than deciding on the spot with emotions. This has lead me to believe that logic is stronger than emotion, however this seems to not be the case.
I recently thought about a hypothetical situation in which I would become immortal though I'd have almost all brain functions removed except movement, sight, hearing, taste and happiness. I would be stuck on an empty planet on my own for eternity with no memories of my past. With my brain functions changed I would be able to spend eternity taking a step, turning around and taking a step and repeating and being happy forever.
It seems logical that if I was ever offered this opportunity I'd take but when I thought about it I couldn't bare it. I was frustrated because I could see no valid reason for giving up my current life for a life of eternal happiness. I'm still somewhat frustrated about it.

For discussion value, could you take that opportunity?

P.S. if this topic sounds stupid or something it's probably because I'm fairly tired right now.

 

[delet]

Of course, then that wouldn't be you. It would be a completely different person who would enjoy pacing back and forth. The you as you know you would be dead. There'd be no point in taking such an option because it's just full of downsides.

 

[eggy32]

You make a good point but why would I want to be the me that I am when I could be a completely different person who has eternal happiness without any suffering?

 

[Jackpot524]

When asked things like this, I just remember what Futurama taught me:
There is a fate worse then death: Pre-life, then death!


On a serious note, I'd rather live a short engaging life than an eternal meaningless one.

 

[hyzaku]

Man that is a bizarre concept, though something that was covered in a Deadpool comic I recall. I would swiftly turn down that offer. Even if I would never know once I accepted, I would know going in that it would be a totally wasted existence. Losing your ability to think is arguably one of the cruelest things you can do to a human as our mind is what separates us from everything else. That type of existence would never be fulfilling. I could never give up being me just to be happy.

 

[lacktheknack]

No thanks. No reason not to take it, but no reason to take it either.

 

[delet]

You make a good point but why would I want to be the me that I am when I could be a completely different person who has eternal happiness without any suffering?

Use the quote function.

Why would you indeed.

 

[Drakmeire]

It's actually logical to think that way the desire to live forever is an emotional one, if you are logical than you will realize that living forever would serve no purpose beside maybe a few emotional goals but since that much time alive would render your emotions useless thinking logically shows that there is no benefit.
shallow happiness would be a broken concept as well as you would become manic depressive since you feel nothing but euphoria and it has become the norm. meaning you would need a new feeling but not be able to grasp why.

 

[WanderingFool]

No thanks. No reason not to take it, but no reason to take it either.

Sums up my opinion perfectly.

 

[AssassinJoe]

No. I couldn't accept that offer. It sounds excessively boring.

 

[eggy32]

No. I couldn't accept that offer. It sounds excessively boring.

but you'd be eternally happy.

 

[The Wykydtron]

Damn it OP you didn't mention Schrodinger's Cat! That's the rule of all philosophic threads Scrodinger's Cat is needed!

 

[eggy32]

Damn it OP you didn't mention Schrodinger's Cat! That's the rule of all philosophic threads Scrodinger's Cat is needed!

Oh sorry.
EDIT: Also you're inside a giant box with a vial of poison that may or may not have killed you at some point and some aliens are outside the box discussing physics.

 

[AssassinJoe]

No. I couldn't accept that offer. It sounds excessively boring.

but you'd be eternally happy.

Who says I'm not already happy? Besides with most of my brain functions removed I really wouldn't be me now would I?

 

[lee1287]

You found out you had a penis? Don't worry, i was shocked when i found mine.

 

[Paksenarrion]

If you're capable of something more, why settle for anything less?

Also, I suspect that deep down, if I gave up the struggle now, I would be eternally suicidal. There would be that nagging feeling that I lost at life.

Not that I'm not losing right now...

 

[TWRule]

Normally when I have to make a decision I do not let emotions over ride my logical thoughts. I usually think the situation out logically rather than deciding on the spot with emotions. This has lead me to believe that logic is stronger than emotion, however this seems to not be the case.
I recently thought about a hypothetical situation in which I would become immortal though I'd have almost all brain functions removed except movement, sight, hearing, taste and happiness. I would be stuck on an empty planet on my own for eternity with no memories of my past. With my brain functions changed I would be able to spend eternity taking a step, turning around and taking a step and repeating and being happy forever.
It seems logical that if I was ever offered this opportunity I'd take but when I thought about it I couldn't bare it. I was frustrated because I could see no valid reason for giving up my current life for a life of eternal happiness. I'm still somewhat frustrated about it.

For discussion value, could you take that opportunity?

P.S. if this topic sounds stupid or something it's probably because I'm fairly tired right now.

I don't think your scenario shows that emotion is stronger than logic - I think you are just finding something intuitively wrong with the scenario, which makes sense.

From a logical point of view it would be impossible to be happy if you couldn't NOT be happy. If there was no contrast, then happiness would be meaningless and thus not worth mentioning. If it's meaningless then that means you can't really experience emotion - and of course from an emotional point of view, you'd rather experience emotion than not. Therefore, both sides of the coin are telling you it would be inferior to your current situation. The memories part is a separate issue.

 

[eggy32]

No. I couldn't accept that offer. It sounds excessively boring.

but you'd be eternally happy.

Who says I'm not already happy? Besides with most of my brain functions removed I really wouldn't be me now would I?

I'm sure you're happy now but at some point in life you were unhappy or will be unhappy. And I can't quite understand peoples'(including my own) lack of willingness to give up being themselves. Why is that so important?

 

[Aiden_the-Joker1]

Eternal happiness. Well if you couldn't feel sadness then the happiness wouldn't be special you would not be happy you would merely be content. I could not spend eternity just content I would not truly be living.

 

[eggy32]

*snip*

I don't think your scenario shows that emotion is stronger than logic - I think you are just finding something intuitively wrong with the scenario, which makes sense.

From a logical point of view it would be impossible to be happy if you couldn't NOT be happy. If there was no contrast, then happiness would be meaningless and thus not worth mentioning. If it's meaningless then that means you can't really experience emotion - and of course from an emotional point of view, you'd rather experience emotion than not. Therefore, both sides of the coin are telling you it would be inferior to your current situation. The memories part is a separate issue.

I think I understand what you're saying and I'm clearer on this now. I was thinking before that my emotions were taking over because I knew I'd be leaving my family, friends and everything I love behind which is an unpleasant thought.

P.S. I'd just like to say you guys are awesome. Thanks for clearing this all up.