how true is the saying "ignorance is bliss"?

[R3g3CiDe]

I like to think of myself as a level headed well informed individual. As part of my everyday life I watch the news, learn about the latest health issues through television and newspapers, and of course try to have some understanding of what is going on in the world. If you are like most people out there, these things could cause a certain amount of stress, anxiety, and panic in your lives without perhaps you even realizing it.

Striving not to catch the latest flu is challenging enough, worrying the food you are eating might not be safe, or having the threat that someone could bomb or start shooting in a public place, could make the average individual a little crazy.

Would it be nice for a change to indulge in some of life's little pleasures without being stressed out or feeling guilty? Imagine dining out eating rich food, and not considering your cholesterol level, possible heart disease, or high blood pressure? How about being intimate with someone without worrying the encounter could be fatal? Imagine waking up on a sunny day without being reminded all the time of the greenhouse effect, global warming, or the environment in general? I am not suggesting people practice unsafe sex. or eat themselves to death. The thing is to me the more advanced we become, the less we seem able to do.

With that said, I always liked to go back to my dearly departed relatives who immigrated to North America. Once they arrived life might have been hard at the beginning, but compared to what they left, this was paradise. They looked at life in a way we could only dream of attaining. They knew how to enjoy, and did not worry about the "what if this happened". They simply were not aware of the dangers, and nothing could have been as bad as what they already experienced. Just like today, some folks live to ripe old ages, and others past away earlier.

In my opinion many of those relatives who died early might have been saved, if they were given the same medical treatments as people receive today. Just consider are advancements in cancer treatments, heart disease, and antibiotics. One of the biggest killers today is stress which causes many health issues. Maybe it is time to turn off the television, stop reading the paper for awhile, and live our lives the way we see fit for us.

What I am trying to get across is that each person is only given a certain amount of time to roam this earth, and none of us know how long it will be. So if we do everything legal we want while we are here, how bad would that be? Can anyone guarantee by doing everything to protect our health or environment will assure us a longer life? Try telling that to the families who lost love ones in natural disasters, wars, or the students who were senselessly murdered for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. None of those poor people would have wanted to wake up in the morning and be told you are going to die today, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Is ignorance bliss? That is an issue that could be debated forever!!!

[voodoo scientist]

"Is ignorance bliss?" is indeed a question that can be debated forever, but like all questions with a measurable result, there is only one right answer.

Information is useless in and of itself. What you do with the knowledge is what ultimately determines if it makes you happy or depressed. Does gaining information so that you can worry about a greater range of subjects make you happier? Probably not. Does gaining information so you can spot a greater range of opportunities make you happier? Probably. Does gaining information have any effect if your behavior doesn't reflect it? There's probably a number of correlations to this one, but no real causation. Strictly neurologically speaking, the absence of information does not trigger any reward in the brain. It is possible (but currently unproven) that greater amounts of information connecting to a particular event results in a deeper or more satisfying experience than a less connected one, but an explicit lack of information certainly does not contribute to feelings of happiness. In the best case, a lack of information will produce better results than greater amounts of inaccurate information. I believe this misunderstanding is what produces the question in the first place.

For example: A 'caveman' who mechanically responds to his environment will be happy so long as his starting factors do not conflict with environmental events later on in his life, because his expectations are accurate and thus he always "gets what he wants" - an animal. However, a change in the environment (an ice age, or more relevantly, a cultural revolution) would be evolutionarily disastrous for our caveman - without the ability to actively manage his own expectations, he is bound to continue acting in obsolete ways based on now-irrelevant starting factors, and eventually become extinct.

Just consider our advancements in cancer treatment, heart disease and antibiotics: in only two generations, the entire notion of "dying in your sleep" has all but disappeared as advancing medical sciences have raised everyone's expectations for survival to the sky - not just for themselves, but for everyone they know. At face value, it's simply no longer acceptable to die, while in the past it was a normal part of life, which causes a great deal of unnecessary grief every time someone does die. On the other hand, those expectations are also a large part of what drives our medical science advancements.

In summary, information is neither beneficial or harmful in itself. What causes non-bliss is failure to adapt either (or both) your behavior and expectations to your environment.

[CB89]

"Is ignorance bliss?" is indeed a question that can be debated forever, but like all questions with a measurable result, there is only one right answer.

Information is useless in and of itself. What you do with the knowledge is what ultimately determines if it makes you happy or depressed. Does gaining information so that you can worry about a greater range of subjects make you happier? Probably not. Does gaining information so you can spot a greater range of opportunities make you happier? Probably. Does gaining information have any effect if your behavior doesn't reflect it? There's probably a number of correlations to this one, but no real causation. Strictly neurologically speaking, the absence of information does not trigger any reward in the brain. It is possible (but currently unproven) that greater amounts of information connecting to a particular event results in a deeper or more satisfying experience than a less connected one, but an explicit lack of information certainly does not contribute to feelings of happiness. In the best case, a lack of information will produce better results than greater amounts of inaccurate information. I believe this misunderstanding is what produces the question in the first place.

For example: A 'caveman' who mechanically responds to his environment will be happy so long as his starting factors do not conflict with environmental events later on in his life, because his expectations are accurate and thus he always "gets what he wants" - an animal. However, a change in the environment (an ice age, or more relevantly, a cultural revolution) would be evolutionarily disastrous for our caveman - without the ability to actively manage his own expectations, he is bound to continue acting in obsolete ways based on now-irrelevant starting factors, and eventually become extinct.

Just consider our advancements in cancer treatment, heart disease and antibiotics: in only two generations, the entire notion of "dying in your sleep" has all but disappeared as advancing medical sciences have raised everyone's expectations for survival to the sky - not just for themselves, but for everyone they know. At face value, it's simply no longer acceptable to die, while in the past it was a normal part of life, which causes a great deal of unnecessary grief every time someone does die. On the other hand, those expectations are also a large part of what drives our medical science advancements.

In summary, information is neither beneficial or harmful in itself. What causes non-bliss is failure to adapt either (or both) your behavior and expectations to your environment.

This is an excellent topic. I'm glad someone brought it up.

Voodoo, are you suggesting that our actions and thought processes are a result of our environment? ( I.E. Behavior is learned? )

As for how we deal with new incoming information, I think the results rely upon the pre-concieved notions of the beholder.
On that note, I'll refer to the 3 theories of emotion.

James-Lange = The James-Lange theory refers to a hypothesis on the origin and nature of emotions developed independently by two 19th-century scholars, William James and Carl Lange. The theory states that within human beings, as a response to experiences in the world, the autonomic nervous system creates physiological events such as muscular tension, a rise in heart rate, perspiration, and dryness of the mouth. Emotions, then, are feelings which come about as a result of these physiological changes, rather than being their cause.

The Cannon-Bard Theory =  Theorizes that physiological changes are caused by emotions

Schachter & Singer's Theory = Theorizes that emotions are a direct result of an analysis of the surroundings.

I personally agree with the Schachter & Singer Theory. I think that the analysis, however, can be replaced by a pre-concieved notion. If you have thought about life and death, then perhaps the death of someone on the news, or even a loved one will be more understandable. This isn't to say that it isn't a big deal, don't get me wrong. I just believe that your emotional reaction is based on either your current analysis of the event at hand, or the pre-concieved notion of the situation.

Any thoughts?

[hortonpilot]

I like to think being less ignorant can enhance our lives.
Certainly knowledge can give us pleasure in understanding something.
For instance we learn to appreaciate the arts through our education.

Not being ignorant can be a burdon?
"The heavy burdon of knowledge ..............." I-Ching

Horton

[psy_guy]

Well this is some interesting topic.

and there is nothing you can do about it

You can always do something about something... But this is just an example, isn't it? Hehe.

In my opinion many of those relatives who died early might have been saved, if they were given the same medical treatments as people receive today. Just consider are advancements in cancer treatments, heart disease, and antibiotics. One of the biggest killers today is stress which causes many health issues. Maybe it is time to turn off the television, stop reading the paper for awhile, and live our lives the way we see fit for us.

Actually not only stress. Cancer deaths are growing up quickly. Also sex related diseases. Not sure, how they are called in English, sorry about that. Those three things are the biggest killers nowadays. Other things - yes, new medicine, many things can be cured now. But cancer and SOME sexual diseases cannot be cured.
Stress, however, can be cured, by hypnosis. But I am not sure about that though, just a theory without many facts. If I understand hypnosis correctly, then you can be cured from stress, if not - then I'm wrong.

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And now my comment on the thread's question in general... I think, that ignorance is a bliss, yes. In fact, stupidity is a bliss too. The only thing you have to do - is have money. Imagine an average person with 80-90 IQ and 50 millions in his hand. He buys a house, he lives all his life as a king. He doesn't worry, he doesn't understand many things, he just doesn't care about many things in fact. He just sits in some big mansion, eats hamburgers and watches TV. It sounds nice, doesn't it? Well... In some way. Or of course he goes partying every day, then he will probably die young from drugs, alcohol or smoking. But he wouldn't care about it anyway.

If you look from the other side, for example, if you are smart. If you are smart, you wouldn't ignore stuff in the first place. You would be interested in things, you would analyze them. Very rarely high IQed people are only taking some profession and ignores the whole world, is not interested what size shoes they wear or that his dog has died. (rough examples, yea, but you get the point).

However, what you DO with the information, that is the stressful part. If you decide to know the information (not ignore it) and do nothing about it, because it's not important to you (Votes for example, lol), that is not stressful then. You know it, you don't ignore it, but you don't care about it's consequences either.
If you know and you try to do something about the information you know (try to make people not to kill animals in a country, where people only eats meat. And you are alone against it here), then it is stressful. It differs how you take the information. If you try to care only about the information, that is important to you, and can affect your life directly and not by a coincidence (a public bomber), then you would worry only about important things, and would do something about them, which would stop the worrying. But if you are worrying every day about public bombers or the sunhouse effect, then it's not a good thing.

Of course there are exceptions. A student will worry about his grade, except if he would feel VERY confident. But if he would feel very confident about it, it wouldn't be normal. And if he wouldn't worry about his grades, that would mean, that he doesn't care about his school, or it wouldn't be normal. That's the situation you can't avoid. That's why being a student is stressful and affects your life. If you got some stress outside the school too, then you are most likely becoming miserable, which also isn't good...


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Anyway, I wrote my thoughts scattered, which is not good. I hope you got my points and understood, what I wanted to say by this post.

[hortonpilot]

"However, what you DO with the information, that is the stressful part."

Some people do not interpret information very well and become used to living out of control.
They make choices that lead to a messy life and things always go wrong.
However their level of stress is not as bad as you might think.

Horton

[gone]

Anonymous ; YOU ARE PROOF OF IGNORANT BLISS...

What is all that about health???

This is what's happening, the media go on about health (like you have) which makes people obsessed and scared.. The nation has to be kept dosile and under control.. It's no longer fear of buring in eternal hell for your earthly sins..  They have replaced population control from Religion to Health.. It's that simple and you demonstrate how effective they are.. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

I'M SICK OF NONSENSE HEALTH ISSUES.. That the media & goverment are responsible for and people believe..

HUMANS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS, WE DID PRETTY WELL WITHOUT OUR 5 A DAY FRUIT AND VEG.. WITHOUT CALORIE COUNTING for fucks sake get a grip..

The health industry is a multi-billion £$ industry... hypnosis, reiki, vitamins, reflexology, accupuncture, etc etc the latest I've observed are 'low immune system' gimmicks.. see here..
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4227
THEY ARE A CON but the more people hear something the more they believe it.. They believe shit basically..  We're all going to die, get over it and enjoy the time you spend here. I treat being on earth like being on holiday, like I'm a visitor and my eyes are always open, I appreciate the environment and observe the natural beauty. I like spending time on earth.. A healthy balanced diet provides all nutrition. Anti cancer properties = marketing gimmick... Anit- ageing = marketing gimmick.. IT'S ALL SHIT people are OBSESSED WITH THEMSELVES AND THEIR OWN HEALTH... We live in the 'Century of Self'

People seriously need to get some common sense in their lives..

You are right with saying we're only here for so long. So enjoy it. I don't read newspapers or watch tv. and I'm not ill or stressed infact I'm the happiest person I know. I have no pressure on me to buy the latest fasion because I don't read magazine but I still pull blokes more than those that do because I smile because I'm happy :-) and I'm interesting and fun, whereas other talk of angels or are too scared to to smile or it will crease their face..  Men have the same pressures, sucess is measured in weath and material possession again magazines and media & the economy deliver these 'beliefs'...

Better just stay away from all these superficial self and health influences.. they make a person miserable I observe.

[hortonpilot]

Psycho-mother,

'Men have the same pressures, sucess is measured in wealth and material possession again magazines and media & the economy deliver these 'beliefs'..."

Better just stay away from all these superficial self and health influences.. they make a person miserable I observe."


These are interesting ideas!

I returned to the mainstream workforce a few years back and was frankly shocked at what people talk and think about at work, reading material is at 16 year old's level and concerns are at best trivial.

The joke is this life-view just causes these people to be more conformist and essentially unhappy while they shovel vast amounts of food into the their faces whilst watching "Food lifestyle" shows on TV.
The whole existence that these people aspire to is really just a glorified tread-mill and they are the lab-rats that turn the wheel.
Their basic conversation revolves on putting shit on other people and how much they hate work, the huge amount of debt they carry to own a 4x4 and house.

I rarely see a book brought to work that is worth reading and they never seem to have any great ideas.
All in all this a is a pathetic view of the world and any trace of enthusiasm /curiosity seems to be removed from most adults .
Of course this is a very destructive influence to their families and the younger people they work with.

My views are pretty mixed in if it is even worth caring about people who live like this.
Basic ethical ideas don't occur to them and disloyalty is something i have noticed.


Horton

[NataEames]

Ignorance is the oxygen most people breathe. And they enjoy their breath. A lot.

The need to live in that ignorant state drives people to drugs, alcohol, hyper somnolence, not thinking about things, and a lot of other wrongdoings that cause severe damage to the mind in the long run.

Ignorance is definitely not the only thing that drives people to those escapist habits but the need for ignorance is in a lot of people who get into them.

[ubiquity]

ignorance is bliss, but stupidity is paradise

[hortonpilot]

Getting to the real issue?
Are the stupid any happier?

I don't think so.
Stupid people often have very negative attitudes and destructive behavior.
Lack of critical thinking and introspection/personal insight often leaves them frustrated , angry and unhappy with their life,destructive behavior rather than change ensues.
Stupid people think it smart to be negative and complain.
Smarter people realise this is a waste of energy and it has consequences.

Horton