Forum: Reasons to be cheerful

Strands of discussion:

• What is happiness?
• Is happiness an inborn disposition?
• In Life of Brian, he sang “Always look on the bright side” when he was nailed to the cross, is this example of “cheerful disposition”? Or plain denial, admitting defeat?
• Can everyone be as happy as the other?
• Are we by nature Schadenfreude – only happy at other’s misfortune?
• Pursuit of happiness conforms to the American way of life, equivalent of the pursuit of material possessions?
• Is it an insidious way of dumbing-down?