You should have such a 10th grade geometry teacher.
John saw Jory Farr's new "culturewise" column in Columbus Monthly — "The Art of Being Artie Isaac" — and offered another thought for my repertoire. This idea comes from another mathematician, Blaise Pascal:
All people seek happiness. This
is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this
end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire
in both, attended with different views. They will never takes the least step but
to this object. This is the motive of every action of every person, even those
who hang themselves.
Is Happiness Enough?
Some might think this — the idea that we are merely happiness seekers — to be small. They complain that we are more altruistic, more noble.
I disagree. I find some comfort in the idea.
And I recognize my own hunger for happiness. It leads me toward both the noble and the ignoble.
Where's The Comfort In That?
There is much clarity. After all, once we know that we are seeking happiness, we have a vision for the future.
Which makes our mission clearer: we know what education to seek — and what to offer to the next generation. We would learn how to learn:
- What induces happiness?
- What Happiness Inducers are healthy for us and for our neighbors (over the fence and around the world)?
- How might we incent ourselves — more happiness, no doubt — to pick and pursue the Happiness Inducers that serve the greatest good?
I'm Happy.
And filled with gratitude for Jory Farr's article.
Friends have called to say that he really nailed it. Or me.
Indeed, he energetically and intelligently researched this one: calling several friends (Jonathan, Diane, Matt, Rob) first to ask them about me, then meeting me to ask me about what I'm doing. That order of interviews was peculiar, and peculiarly effective.
Thanks, Jory.