Position:Home>Philosophy> Star trek: is progress or happiness more important?
Question: Star trek: is progress or happiness more important!?
I took a philosophy of star trek class when I was in college (yes, this was a real class!) and one of the episodes we watched was "This side of paradise"!. In this episode, a group of scientists from Earth are found inhabiting a foreign planet!. They claim to be perfectly happy there despite abandoning their scientific endeavors to live as farmers!. The crew discovers that the reason for their happiness is that they have been poisoned by flowers that cause a false sense of content!. In the end, they find a way to cure them and the scientists are distraught that they have wasted so much time that could have been spent on scientific advancement!. My professor concluded that for progress to be made, there has to be some discontent!. That part I agree with, but where I have a disagreement is which one is more important!. The show's writers and my professor obviously feel that progress is more important than happiness!. My contention is that happiness is the ultimate goal, and progress is our way of seeking happiness!. What do you think is more important, stagnant happiness, or some discontent but progress!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Interesting however, I would be more comfortable with this statement: "Sometimes progress requires discontent"!.
What I think your teacher missed is that these people we're actually happy!. They didnt have the presense of mind to be as they were under the influence of a chemical or compound that distorted their perceptions!.
One could more effectively argue that this false happiness is the ultimate form of discontent for the characters in question!. The reason being that an individual living in a utopian society who has dedicated their life to a study does so out of choice, out of passion and curiosity!. Therefore anything that distracts or curtails would be the true discontent!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Happiness and contentment are more important than scientific and technological progress!.
Human brains have limited capabilities, one of which is not being able to see the inter-connectivity of everything around us!. You are right that we progress to try and be happy, but by doing so we create conditions for suffering!.
We lack the knowledge and wisdom to progress towards happiness!. Instead we keep circling it, progressing towards nothing but more progression!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I think everything we do is somehow to increase our happiness!. People wouldnt progress if it didnt make them feel happy in some way, either because they enjoy the work or they just feeling they are contributing to a noble cause!. But I honestly think happiness is far more important!. Look at the "progress" we've made, nuclear weapons and holes in the ozone, and tell me that progress means a damn thing if it isnt making life easier or "happier"!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I agree with you that progress is a means to the end which is happiness!. Hmmm!.!.!.does it make you happy that I agreed with you!? Most people enjoy having their beliefs or views backed up by others; i!.e!., a lack of conflict leads to happiness!.
Going off on a slight tangent, one of the main themes of Star Trek was that lack of conflict was the way to a happier future!. War between the Klingon empire & the Federation isn't quite the same as having someone disagree with you!.!.!.or is it!?
Getting back to the heart of your question though, I don't think progress and happiness are mutually exclusive!. Progress can cause either pleasure or suffering!. I'm very happy as a technophile and futurist, but many Amish I've met also seem fairly happy!. And some religions such as Buddhism teach that true happiness is not the result of worldly goods (i!.e!. the fruits of progress)!.
The history of progress, however, is that it has given us more happiness than suffering!. Indeed, the chief aim of much progress is the alleviation or elimination of suffering so that we may lead happier lives!.
Progress is one means to happiness, but it's not the only means!. I can strongly sympathize with scientists who find happiness in exploring science and scientific advancements!. I also find a lot of happiness in playing "World of Warcraft," which for me is like the flowers of that episode--a destroyer of progress and productivity!. :-) Who's to say that if the flowers in that episode were to have gone extinct, that the former scientists wouldn't have continued in their newfound lifestyle that they believed made them happy!? What, exactly, qualifies as "false" contentment!?Www@QuestionHome@Com