The pursuit of happiness is making us miserable

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The pursuit of happiness is making us miserable

29 Oct 2010

Why Now?

If countries can be said to have moods, it appears to be a gloomy time in most of the world. Cuts are beginning to bite in Europe, there are few signs of a bounce back to quick economic growth, and the run-up to the American mid terms has been characterised by rancour and disappointment. It seems that the bad times are here to stay.

But should we be so glum? In this IQ2Oz live debate, a panel of thinkers, psychiatrists and academics debate the motion “The Pursuit of Happiness Makes Us Miserable”. Perhaps, as Dr Judith Sloane argues, many of us were “sucked into a vortex of pointless consumerism” by the pursuit of material wealth when it appeared to be available – which, according to research Sloane cites, did not actually make us any more cheerful. So maybe being slightly poorer will make little difference – and might give us an opportunity to reassess our priorities.

Perhaps the problem is a deeper one. Regardless of the economic situation, is happiness something one can ever set as a goal? Dr Tanveer Ahmend argues that our search for happiness is driven by a “desire for mathematical elegance instead of a greyer, messier reality” - and is a quest for a “transient emotional state”, which feeds the modern lust for all things instant. And Clive Hamilton claims that the three quickest ways to feeling good are “red wine, chocolate and sex”, all of which can have damaging after-effects.

So should we just give up on the whole thing and sink into despair? Surely life isn’t as bad as all that? Our video of the lively and outspoken debate should help you decide for yourself.

Event info:

The pursuit of happiness is one of the unalienable rights enshrined in the US Declaration of Independence. But is our relentless striving to feel good no matter what actually making us miserable? Would we be better to accept that life comes with good times and bad, and make peace with that? This IQ² debate, held in Sydney in March 2010, pitted those who believe that happiness is a worthwhile goal that can be found in pleasures material and social, against those who hold that people should abandon unrealistic goals and seek quiet comfort within.

Speakers for the motion

Petrea King

Author, counsellor, motivational speaker and founder of the Quest for Life Foundation
Clive Hamilton

Professor for Public Ethics at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics, public intellectual and author
Dr Tanveer Ahmed

Opinion columnist, The Sydney Morning Herald

Chair

Simon Longstaff

Executive Director, St. James Ethics Centre, Sydney

Speakers against the motion

Judith Sloan

Economist and academic, Commissioner of the Productivity Commission and the Australian Fair Pay Commission
Russel Howcroft

Former Chairman of the Advertising Federation of Australia, panellist on ABC's 'The Gruen Transfer.'
Ian Hickie

Professor of psychiatry and Executive Director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute