To be right or to be happy?

[Geneviev]

People will always say that they want to believe only in true things, but sometimes the truth will make them unhappy. Consider these examples:
1. Person A has been isolated from society for the last year and is entirely unaware of the current pandemic. They have been perfectly happy being alone and studying without knowing about what is happening in the world around them. Since they are isolating themselves already for different reasons, they are unlikely to be harmed by being ignorant of the pandemic. But if they do find out, it will cause them significant psychological distress (like the rest of us).
2. Person B believes in a religion that, for the sake of discussion, can be assumed to be false. But the religion makes Person B happy, gives their life purpose, and has helped them confront the suffering in their life. It also encourages them to be selfless and serve others. Being told their religion is false and seeing proof that it is false would not only make them unhappy, but would make it difficult for them to cope with everyday life.
There are more examples like this, but they are the first I thought of. So, in these situations, is it really better to know the truth? Or should we also consider what makes people happy?
In my opinion, there are situations in which the truth is too unpleasant to force on people. In the case of Person A, they should be told about the pandemic in case they choose to leave their hypothetical isolation during the pandemic. But Person B is not harmed by their faith at all, and to prove it wrong would be unethical in that case. But what say you, NSG?

[Shin-Mutsu]

If it doesn't hurt others, let them be. Sometimes illusions are better left unbroken, and this applies to many people.

[SatoSere]

I personally would put truth above happiness. We don't live in Brave New World after all

[South Odreria 2]

Usually I try to ignore reality and try to live life the best I can, but sometimes I feel like accepting the truth is more important than short term happiness. So mostly I just wing it and see what happens

[Geneviev]

I personally would put truth above happiness. We don't live in Brave New World after all

I wouldn't say that it's always like Brave New World, in all fairness. I think everyone is prepared to correct dangerous or harmful misconceptions.

[Feline Goetland]

People will always say that they want to believe only in true things, but sometimes the truth will make them unhappy. Consider these examples:
1. Person A has been isolated from society for the last year and is entirely unaware of the current pandemic. They have been perfectly happy being alone and studying without knowing about what is happening in the world around them. Since they are isolating themselves already for different reasons, they are unlikely to be harmed by being ignorant of the pandemic. But if they do find out, it will cause them significant psychological distress (like the rest of us).
2. Person B believes in a religion that, for the sake of discussion, can be assumed to be false. But the religion makes Person B happy, gives their life purpose, and has helped them confront the suffering in their life. It also encourages them to be selfless and serve others. Being told their religion is false and seeing proof that it is false would not only make them unhappy, but would make it difficult for them to cope with everyday life.
There are more examples like this, but they are the first I thought of. So, in these situations, is it really better to know the truth? Or should we also consider what makes people happy?
In my opinion, there are situations in which the truth is too unpleasant to force on people. In the case of Person A, they should be told about the pandemic in case they choose to leave their hypothetical isolation during the pandemic. But Person B is not harmed by their faith at all, and to prove it wrong would be unethical in that case. But what say you, NSG?

Knowing about reality is very important because lies have consequences through distorted actions. In particular religious beliefs do have consequences especially if one of the go-to-hell-if-you-don’t-have-the-factually-accurate-religion religions happens to be factually accurate. Even in an atheistic or deistic universe religious beliefs can still have consequences.

E.g.
1. A certain Muhammad Abbas died in an ISIS suicide attack as a suicide bomber.

Questions:
1. Does Muhammad Abbas exist now?
2. If 1 is correct where is him?
3. Was the suicide attack beneficial or harmful to him?
4. Was the suicide attack beneficial or harmful to the community?

[Rainbow Forest]

People will always say that they want to believe only in true things, but sometimes the truth will make them unhappy. Consider these examples:
1. Person A has been isolated from society for the last year and is entirely unaware of the current pandemic. They have been perfectly happy being alone and studying without knowing about what is happening in the world around them. Since they are isolating themselves already for different reasons, they are unlikely to be harmed by being ignorant of the pandemic. But if they do find out, it will cause them significant psychological distress (like the rest of us).
2. Person B believes in a religion that, for the sake of discussion, can be assumed to be false. But the religion makes Person B happy, gives their life purpose, and has helped them confront the suffering in their life. It also encourages them to be selfless and serve others. Being told their religion is false and seeing proof that it is false would not only make them unhappy, but would make it difficult for them to cope with everyday life.
There are more examples like this, but they are the first I thought of. So, in these situations, is it really better to know the truth? Or should we also consider what makes people happy?
In my opinion, there are situations in which the truth is too unpleasant to force on people. In the case of Person A, they should be told about the pandemic in case they choose to leave their hypothetical isolation during the pandemic. But Person B is not harmed by their faith at all, and to prove it wrong would be unethical in that case. But what say you, NSG?

If that religion encourages hating gays, that man deserves to be told his religion is fake and get blasted

[Eurasies]

If I'm right, would I be happy?

[Senkaku]

I don't think "happiness" can be considered so if it's predicated on lies or false beliefs

[Infected Mushroom]

It is better to be a safely deluded but genuinely whimsical, happy-go-lucky fellow with a true heartfelt smile on their face at all times... then to be a grim-faced, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” person unnecessarily aware of the true horror of things

Truth doesn’t matter

Safety and happiness are what counts. Now if you need to know a few truths to be safe, then that’s fine. However, the more you know, the less you can be protected from depressing truths.

[Neanderthaland]

To lie to someone to preserve their happiness is to infantilize them. It is to reject their dignity, reason, and responsibility, because you think you know better than they do. You may think you're doing them a favor. You're actually belittling them. It shows contempt for them. I won't say there's never any reason to do this, but just know that it's a very disrespectful thing to do. And if they hate you for it when they find out, they have every right to.


To lie to yourself to preserve your happiness, is to infantilize yourself. It is to reject all claim to dignity, reason, and responsibility, and hold yourself in contempt. There is a reason why cults attempt to break you down before they indoctrinate you. To lie to yourself is to be broken.

[Feline Goetland]

It is better to be a safely deluded but genuinely whimsical, happy-go-lucky fellow with a true heartfelt smile on their face at all times... then to be a grim-faced, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” person unnecessarily aware of the true horror of things

Truth doesn’t matter

Safety and happiness are what counts. Now if you need to know a few truths to be safe, then that’s fine. However, the more you know, the less you can be protected from depressing truths.

No wonder you like China.

[Feline Goetland]

To lie to someone to preserve their happiness is to infantilize them. It is to reject their dignity, reason, and responsibility, because you think you know better than they do. You may think you're doing them a favor. You're actually belittling them. It shows contempt for them. I won't say there's never any reason to do this, but just know that it's a very disrespectful thing to do. And if they hate you for it when they find out, they have every right to.


To lie to yourself to preserve your happiness, is to infantilize yourself. It is to reject all claim to dignity, reason, and responsibility, and hold yourself in contempt. There is a reason why cults attempt to break you down before they indoctrinate you. To lie to yourself is to be broken.

What do you think should be done about actual children?

[Beatitas]

In my humble opinion, limitless happiness for all beings is the end goal of human society. If you take a person who seeks truth (I view it as subjective), and ask them why they do so, they might answer along the lines of, "Because it helps us understand ourselves and the world around us." Why do we seek to understand these things? Perhaps, to manipulate the resources around us. Perhaps, to deal with a heavy heart. Perhaps, to make the world a better place. The last two examples directly add to happiness, while the first takes a slightly longer path. Why do we turn resources into useful materials? To make our lives easier. So, we seek truth in order to find happiness. The same for religion. Many people turn to the Christian God, for example, because it promises of an eternal heaven for the blessed, with Jesus. But why does one want to be with Jesus in heaven? Because one loves God, loves the benevolent creator. Thus, Christianity, for one, is rooted in the pursuit of happiness. This brings me to my point. Many of those who reflect on faith could come to the conclusion that religion, while unsubstantiated, provides a stability to the uncertainty in this world. What comes after death? Science, at least in its present state, can't answer this. But faith can. Those who choose to believe without looking at the evidence trade the pursuit for truth with promises of a joyful afterlife. One may derive happiness both ways. Because truth's value is only derived from happiness, one may disregard the truth without any consequences. Thus, I would pick happiness over being right.

Also, I won't be replying to any comments )) I don't have enough time!

[Bombadil]

To lie to someone to preserve their happiness is to infantilize them. It is to reject their dignity, reason, and responsibility, because you think you know better than they do. You may think you're doing them a favor. You're actually belittling them. It shows contempt for them. I won't say there's never any reason to do this, but just know that it's a very disrespectful thing to do. And if they hate you for it when they find out, they have every right to.


To lie to yourself to preserve your happiness, is to infantilize yourself. It is to reject all claim to dignity, reason, and responsibility, and hold yourself in contempt. There is a reason why cults attempt to break you down before they indoctrinate you. To lie to yourself is to be broken.

What do you think should be done about actual children?

Look, if we didn't invent Santa we wouldn't have a good two months of relatively obedient children.. but yeah, lying is essentially a form of control, and white lies are more often to protect our feelings than those we're lying to.

Sam Harris has a short book called Lying, which posits that as a society, if we stopped the simple act of telling white lies, we'd all be better off.

[Socialist States of Ludistan]

That’s an excellent question, and as long as the false thing a person believes doesn’t harm anyone else, then I’ll just let them believe it, no matter how stupid it is. But personally I would rather know the truth and be dissatisfied, than believing something false and being happy with it.

[Feline Goetland]

What do you think should be done about actual children?

Look, if we didn't invent Santa we wouldn't have a good two months of relatively obedient children.. but yeah, lying is essentially a form of control, and white lies are more often to protect our feelings than those we're lying to.

Sam Harris has a short book called Lying, which posits that as a society, if we stopped the simple act of telling white lies, we'd all be better off.

As a libertarian you know what I feel about “obedient children”. Yes lying is a form of control and people are usually control freaks (since China exists that’s not really surprising).

[South Odreria 2]

What do you think should be done about actual children?

Look, if we didn't invent Santa we wouldn't have a good two months of relatively obedient children.. but yeah, lying is essentially a form of control, and white lies are more often to protect our feelings than those we're lying to.

Sam Harris has a short book called Lying, which posits that as a society, if we stopped the simple act of telling white lies, we'd all be better off.

Please don't take Santa away from us I read a graphic novel about him and ninjas like ten years ago and I remember it being really cool.

[Feline Goetland]

Look, if we didn't invent Santa we wouldn't have a good two months of relatively obedient children.. but yeah, lying is essentially a form of control, and white lies are more often to protect our feelings than those we're lying to.

Sam Harris has a short book called Lying, which posits that as a society, if we stopped the simple act of telling white lies, we'd all be better off.

Please don't take Santa away from us I read a graphic novel about him and ninjas like ten years ago and I remember it being really cool.

You don’t need to believe that Harry Potter exists to enjoy Harry Potter. Same for a book about Santa. We are talking about actual false beliefs, not fiction.

[Infected Mushroom]

Please don't take Santa away from us I read a graphic novel about him and ninjas like ten years ago and I remember it being really cool.

You don’t need to believe that Harry Porter exists to enjoy Harry Porter. Same for a book about Santa.

Harry Porter?

[Feline Goetland]

You don’t need to believe that Harry Porter exists to enjoy Harry Porter. Same for a book about Santa.

Harry Porter?

Harry Potter. Maybe Harry Porter does exist?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Porter

[SatoSere]

It is better to be a safely deluded but genuinely whimsical, happy-go-lucky fellow with a true heartfelt smile on their face at all times... then to be a grim-faced, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” person unnecessarily aware of the true horror of things

Truth doesn’t matter

Safety and happiness are what counts. Now if you need to know a few truths to be safe, then that’s fine. However, the more you know, the less you can be protected from depressing truths.

Ah yes, you think Brave New World is an instruction manual.

[South Odreria 2]

Please don't take Santa away from us I read a graphic novel about him and ninjas like ten years ago and I remember it being really cool.

You don’t need to believe that Harry Potter exists to enjoy Harry Potter. Same for a book about Santa. We are talking about actual false beliefs, not fiction.

Yeah but if we didn't tell kids Santa delivered presents then that book wouldn't have been written and my life would be in ruins

[Knica Eas]

It is better to be a safely deluded but genuinely whimsical, happy-go-lucky fellow with a true heartfelt smile on their face at all times... then to be a grim-faced, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” person unnecessarily aware of the true horror of things

Truth doesn’t matter

Safety and happiness are what counts. Now if you need to know a few truths to be safe, then that’s fine. However, the more you know, the less you can be protected from depressing truths.

I agree with this sentiment in general and would extend it further.

Truth is utilitarian. If a claimed 'truth' in relation to physical reality does not lead to some form of measurable or reproducible result, it is not a useful 'truth'. In the same way, if a claimed 'truth' in relation to sociological reality does not lead to measurable results, it is not a useful 'truth'.

For this poster, safety and happiness is of utmost concern. Therefore, truths are important to them insofar as these truths contribute to the ultimate goal of safety and happiness.

There are infinite truths in an infinite universe; we are finite beings. As such, any claim to universality must necessary tend towards the greatest possible degree of arrogance. The only way for a finite being to claim universality would be to shrink their universe, so those who are insistent on pushing a universal truth are, to me, no more than solipsists of a particularly extroverted variety.

Of course, it is still possible to admit that one's truths are not universal, but extrapolate that it is, based on the limited information available. In this case, it is important to clearly define the constraints and limitaitons, and maintain a strictly evidence-based approach in the course of growing one's sense of reality.

[Infected Mushroom]

It is better to be a safely deluded but genuinely whimsical, happy-go-lucky fellow with a true heartfelt smile on their face at all times... then to be a grim-faced, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” person unnecessarily aware of the true horror of things

Truth doesn’t matter

Safety and happiness are what counts. Now if you need to know a few truths to be safe, then that’s fine. However, the more you know, the less you can be protected from depressing truths.

Ah yes, you think Brave New World is an instruction manual.

I love the show

Harry Lloyd KILLED it as the Alpha, he was so believable