The link could be opened only after installing *sportify*.
It is a very good talk, a good conversation, indeed. Thank you very much.
It nicely and lucidly discussed the subject 'Happiness Lessons Of The Ancients: Socrates and Self Knowledge'. Dr Laurie's exposition of the subject gave various interesting information about what happiness is through the eyes of Socrates. He was a great philosopher and a polymath. He tried to arrive at truth through his famous method of *dialogue*.
What exactly is happiness? It is a very fascinating and complex question, attracting a great deal of attention of all eminent philosophers. But still the question is not finally answered.
It is certainly not material. A man spending his life beside a dusty road in scorching heat is found laughing and enjoying, whereas another man living in a luxurious villa is sad and restless.
Happiness is different for different persons because it depends on so many factors. Bhagat Singh derived happiness by going to noose, whereas many cowards were terrorised even in their well fortified houses.
Happiness depends upon knowledge, belief system, mindset, traditions ....... The base of philosophy and knowledge is scientific critical enquiries into everything around us - natural, social or personal. It was so dear and precious for Socrates that he gladly embraced death for upholding it. He was always in search of truth and valued it the most. He said 'there is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance'.
One should always be open-minded and ready for paradigm shift in one's thinking to reach truth. After studying all the inventions of human civilisation Kuhn in his highly influential landmark book, *The Structure of Scientific Revolutions*, shows how almost every significant breakthrough in the field of scientific endeavour is first a breakaway with traditions and old ways of thinking. But the society and the religion have always resisted any change. They have vested interests in maintaining the status quo.
In our Indian society as elsewhere in regressive sections the scientific temperament is being blunted and questioning of traditional values, value system, belief, belief system, mindset and ways of thinking is condemned as anathema and even anti-nationalist. Our Indian spiritual leaders - rishis - also held that *paramanand* lies in total and absolute surrender to *paramatma*. It leaves no space for further questioning. It emphasises that when we see *paramatma* everywhere and in everything, we find only *anand* in this creation. Is not possible for common and normal people.
A good share, thank you, bete!
(This was a comment on a video on *Happiness Lessons Of The Ancients: Socrates and Self Knowledge'* by Dr Laurie, shared by my daughter -in-kaw Rishika)
