Big Think
1 HN recommender · recommended in 4 months, 2014–2023
2:01 · 3.6M views · Jun 25, 2012
A two-minute Big Think clip of Slavoj Zizek arguing that happiness is a conformist, even unethical goal. He asks why one would want to be happy when one could be interesting.
HN shares it as a short, provocative counterpoint in threads on purpose, goals and the pursuit of happiness.
4 comments from Hacker News
Andrew, you're fine. I'm going to guess that you're American as America is the most happy-obsessed culture in the world in my experience. Happiness as virtue is not universal, maybe you need some more time abroad. I know you said you visited 100 countries but visiting 100 countries and living in another country for many years is quite a different thing. Or maybe you just need different friends or perhaps a meditation practice, I don't know. I'll leave you with this 2 minute video from Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, "Why Be Happy When You Could Be Interesting?": this video
I see your Mr Peterson (whom I love), and I raise you with the inimitable and sporadically brilliant Slavoj Zizek - whom I fucking hate so much that I love too. Happiness is an unethical "cut-ay-gory": this video (For those you aren't aware of his tick, don't watch, just listen)
I don't fell that being happy is worth it. If I needed no money and no attention, perhaps happiness shouldn't also be the next goal to achieve. See what I mean here: this video
Slavoj Žižek [1] sees happiness as a conformist category. He argues that: > We don't really want what we think we desire. [1]: this video