3 minutes ago, Sensei said:

Some animals, when their brains are stimulated by appropriate chemicals or appropriate electrical impulses, can even die of starvation. They stop looking for food, stop all their normal activities, and just live in constant euphoria until they die. Of course, scientists are helping them in this experiment..

By dealing weed?

29 minutes ago, Sensei said:

Some animals, when their brains are stimulated by appropriate chemicals or appropriate electrical impulses, can even die of starvation. They stop looking for food, stop all their normal activities, and just live in constant euphoria until they die. Of course, scientists are helping them in this experiment..

Do you have a citation?

7 minutes ago, pinball1970 said:

Do you have a citation?

It doesn't matter, this has now become a question of free will, and that's a kinda god type question.

Sometimes God makes some people happy, usually they're well fed, and some get very hangry...

19 hours ago, pinball1970 said:

Do you have a citation?

Has Google gone bankrupt or what?

https://www.google.com/search?q=science+experiments+rats+stimulation+of+brain+starve

e.g.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0023969071900518

"Self-starvation and rewarding brain stimulation: Effects of chlorpromazine and pentobarbital

Abstract

Given the choice between rewarding brain stimulation and food, albino rats with electrodes placed in or near the medial aspect of the medial forebrain bundle (M-MFB) ignored food and self-stimulated. Subjects with electrodes placed in the lateral aspect of MFB (L-MFB) also self-stimulated, but did not ignore food. In M-MFB animals pretreated with chlorpromazine (CPZ, 2 mg/kg, ip), self-stimulation was reduced and self-starvation was attenuated. When the same subjects were pretreated with pentobarbital (PENT, 8 mg/kg, ip), self-stimulation was not reduced, but self-starvation was attenuated."

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_stimulation_reward

Edited May 26May 26 by Sensei

2 hours ago, Sensei said:

Has Google gone bankrupt or what?

https://www.google.com/search?q=science+experiments+rats+stimulation+of+brain+starve

e.g.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0023969071900518

"Self-starvation and rewarding brain stimulation: Effects of chlorpromazine and pentobarbital

Abstract

Given the choice between rewarding brain stimulation and food, albino rats with electrodes placed in or near the medial aspect of the medial forebrain bundle (M-MFB) ignored food and self-stimulated. Subjects with electrodes placed in the lateral aspect of MFB (L-MFB) also self-stimulated, but did not ignore food. In M-MFB animals pretreated with chlorpromazine (CPZ, 2 mg/kg, ip), self-stimulation was reduced and self-starvation was attenuated. When the same subjects were pretreated with pentobarbital (PENT, 8 mg/kg, ip), self-stimulation was not reduced, but self-starvation was attenuated."

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_stimulation_reward

Thanks I will have a look at those.

55 minutes ago, pinball1970 said:

Thanks I will have a look at those.

There's another rat study that shows, when rats are adequately stimulated they prefer ordinary water to the "happy" drugged water; the reverse is true when the prison is obvious.

So, if nature performed that electrode experiment at some stage of evolution, we must all be descendants of the control group.

One way to look at this is through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (see image). It’s a psychological model that helps explain what our brains might actually be aiming for when we talk about happiness.

Maslow suggested that human motivation happens in stages. At the foundation, we’re driven by basic survival needs like food, water, and rest. Once those are taken care of, our focus shifts to safety, then social connection, then achievement, and finally to things like purpose, creativity, and fulfilment.

The idea is, that we don’t seek “happiness” directly. Instead, we pursue things that meet our needs at different levels. When we satisfy those needs, our brains give us a kind of chemical reward, like a hit of dopamine or serotonin. That’s what we experience as happiness.

So happiness isn’t really the goal. It’s more of a signal that we’re on track. For one person it might mean comfort, for another it might mean achieving something difficult, or having deep relationships, or solving problems.

The question about whether this serves some greater cause or system we’re unaware of, is a fascinating thought. From an evolutionary point of view, our behaviours often support survival and reproduction, whether we’re conscious of it or not. But it’s definitely worth thinking about whether happiness itself could play a role in something bigger than individual experience.

8 hours ago, Chris1000K said:

One way to look at this is through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (see image). It’s a psychological model that helps explain what our brains might actually be aiming for when we talk about happiness.

Maslow suggested that human motivation happens in stages. At the foundation, we’re driven by basic survival needs like food, water, and rest. Once those are taken care of, our focus shifts to safety, then social connection, then achievement, and finally to things like purpose, creativity, and fulfilment.

I think that everything above stage two is cultural noise, and more of a distraction to the stated aim, which I assume is contentment (I haven't read anything by Maslow, other than this image and your synopsis.).

On 5/10/2025 at 3:50 PM, raphaelh42 said:

Hi

i understand that no matter if we want:

• a ton of money to buy cool cars

• make the world a cleaner place

• help animals

We do this because achieving it would make us happy...

Depends what you mean by "happy." The way to real happiness is not as it were to be happy, that's quite easy.
The way to happiness is to be useful
So yes, helping animals and conserving our planet are both very useful, as is looking out for your neighbours, supporting the homeless or helping an old lady across the road

Cheerz
GIAN🙂XXX

Edited May 27May 27 by Gian

51 minutes ago, Gian said:

Depends what you mean by "happy."

doesn't it just...

On 5/27/2025 at 1:19 PM, Gian said:

The way to real happiness is not as it were to be happy, that's quite easy.
The way to happiness is to be useful

So what's your definition of happy, and how does it differ from being content?

I appreciate all the info you are sharing

By happiness i meant like some basic contentment

What i find depressing, is I feel i'm just the slave of my brain, it wants those dopamine etc, and i'm here to please it, and will just do this all my life

It's kinda weird to think/worry about this, but i wanted to share this thought anyway, probably mostly to read from you, hoping to remove this depressing feeling, by seeing other perspective about this, but in the end i guess i'm mostly spreading the feeling, although i hope not, except if it can be useful

10 hours ago, raphaelh42 said:

What i find depressing, is I feel i'm just the slave of my brain, it wants those dopamine etc, and i'm here to please it, and will just do this all my life

I think it might be cultural noise that's distressing you.

There's nothing inherently wrong with pleasing one's brain, as long as it's not at the cost of other's; IOW drink what you want, but don't hit anyone.

People find solice in many different way's, don't let the army of the righteously indignant bully you into hating your choices.

On 5/28/2025 at 1:56 PM, dimreepr said:

So what's your definition of happy, and how does it differ from being content?

For me I think contentment is simply being satisfied (nothing wrong with that.) Happiness is more active; it gives you something, and being useful gives the most.

Edited May 29May 29 by Gian

(Just bumping this thread to get an unpleasant thread title off the main page.)