Is ignorance really bliss?

[orgaelin]

I'd like to ask if there really is bliss in ignorance. Is it really true that what you don't know can't hurt you?

I have always felt I would rather hear an unthinkable truth than be 'blissfully ignorant' of it. For me, bliss comes from the knowing.

Put it into a practical situation: let's say someone keeps a secret from you because they know you would be very hurt if you knew, but if they didn't tell you then no harm would ever come of it...

Would you rather know, or not know?

[Gorgo]

I want to know. What are you hiding from me?

[Paavo]

I've thought about this too.

I think the bottom line is, if you're truly ignorant of something, and lack the will to know, then yes -- ignorance is bliss. If you don't know about a fact, that fact can't hurt or help you, as a fact. However, if that fact -- even if hidden from you -- is the reason for something that affects you, you have the possibility to "trace" your way to that fact, using the clues you get from what affects you.

Uhm....yes. O__o *goes back to eating breakfast*

[Gorgo]

I think if you have a fear , which keeps you from wanting to know what reality is, then you are not blissful.

"You" in general, not you in particular.

[Suburbanite]

What if you're not ignorant out of fear? You just happen to be ignorant. It can be quite blissful. Case and point, a friend of mine got with his bestfriend's girlfriend. The guy just found out, and he kept saying how someone should have told him sooner, yet prior to him knowing, he was quite happy, and now he isn't. It is easy to say that after the fact.

[Lava]

I've found out over and over and over again that ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance of facts keeps us doing things we would not do if we knew better, thus stops us doing our best.

When I get informed, even if I dont like what I hear, I am then in the position to take action to make the best of my situation.


I can only think of one situ where ignorance would hold some temptation. If I were going to go through some horrific ordeal tomorrow, it would be easier to enjoy today in ignorance. But... in the real world, knowing today gives me greater chances of avoiding it tomorrow, or modifying it to be less of an ordeal. And also gives me a chance to come to a bit more peace with it first.

Ignorance is... just ignorance, one of the biggest problems human kind has to deal with.


Lava

[Starboy]

Originally posted by Lava, Ignorance is... just ignorance, one of the biggest problems human kind has to deal with. Lava

I suspect that we will always be ignorant of something. That is neither cause for bliss or fear. What I see as the biggest problem human kind has to deal with is not ignorance but honesty. To have the honesty to say you are ignorant when you just don't know rather than fooling yourself into thinking you know something. Is is too easy to confuse hope with knowledge when you are afraid or in distress. What is hard is to know that hope is only hope when you want so badly for it to be knowledge of what is real.

Starboy

[Gorgo]

The point is, unhappy people are unhappy people.

Originally posted by Suburbanite, What if you're not ignorant out of fear? You just happen to be ignorant.

[Scribbler1]

Regardless of the will to know, ignorance IS bliss. You can make an argument about the "what if's" as a result of not knowing something, but if you really do NOT know anything you aren't even aware of the "what if's".

And how can you be ignorant out of fear? Fear implies the realization of SOMETHING even if it not a solid possibility.
You have to know of the existence of something to fear it.

[Scribbler1]

Originally posted by Lava, I've found out over and over and over again that ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance of facts keeps us doing things we would not do if we knew better, thus stops us doing our best.

But you wouldn't KNOW you were not doing your best. Your BEST is just a subjective term and depends on different factors.

I can only think of one situ where ignorance would hold some temptation. If I were going to go through some horrific ordeal tomorrow, it would be easier to enjoy today in ignorance. But... in the real world, knowing today gives me greater chances of avoiding it tomorrow, or modifying it to be less of an ordeal. And also gives me a chance to come to a bit more peace with it first. Lava

I remember a discussion with someone about just that. The ordeal was a huge asteroid and my friend didn't want to know about it. I wanted to assemble my family at home, give them all a hug and say goodbye...and then get knee-walking drunk.

Besides, at least in the asteroid type scenario, you would be ignorant of it, but only until it got close.

[Gorgo]

If you're afraid to pay attention to what's going on, then you remain ignorant.

Originally posted by Scribbler1, And how can you be ignorant out of fear? Fear implies the realization of SOMETHING even if it not a solid possibility. You have to know of the existence of something to fear it.

[Scribbler1]

But to technically be "ignorant" you can't know anything about something. Not paying attention would seem to imply at least a marginal awareness. Like gathering clouds could be ignored if you're not paying attention, but they are right infront of you. You have an option to look at the sky and you might have even subconsciously noticed them.

OTOH, if a bullet is heading towards the back of your head you are truly ignorant of it until it hits.

[Gorgo]

Okay, your position is different than the original question, which is , I think, "would you rather not know?"

[Starboy]

Originally posted by Scribbler1, Regardless of the will to know, ignorance IS bliss.  You can make an argument about the "what if's" as a result of not knowing something, but if you really do NOT know anything you aren't even aware of the "what if's".

I still don't understand how you can argue that "ignorance IS bliss". Ignorance is just ignorance. It could cut both ways. You could be just as ignorant of that which will harm you as you could be of that which can benefit you. So you could just as easily argue that ignorance IS misery.

Starboy

Ya see....this is one of those discussions one of them Buddhist monks would love to discuss when I was stationed in Vietnam...ugghhh...the men could positively drive you nuts with their roundabout way of talking bout life.

[Starboy]

Well of course ACause. When you start talking about something that you know nothing about, well there is no limit to where you can take it, and many take it way beyond any reasonable limits.

Starboy

[Scribbler1]

Originally posted by Starboy, I still don't understand how you can argue that "ignorance IS bliss". Ignorance is just ignorance. It could cut both ways. You could be just as ignorant of that which will harm you as you could be of that which can benefit you. So you could just as easily argue that ignorance IS misery. Starboy

Good point. I guess you could say ignorance just IS, and leave it at that.

[Technosoul]

Originally posted by orgaelin, I'd like to ask if there really is bliss in ignorance. Is it really true that what you don't know can't hurt you? I have always felt I would rather hear an unthinkable truth than be 'blissfully ignorant' of it. For me, bliss comes from the knowing. Put it into a practical situation: let's say someone keeps a secret from you because they know you would be very hurt if you knew, but if they didn't tell you then no harm would ever come of it... Would you rather know, or not know?

I don't know and I am happy I don't know.

What! Me Worry?

[orgaelin]

I've kind of sat out of this discussion, but I'm back now. From my own understanding and the comments people have made, it seems that the state of bliss is relative.

If the fact of which one is ignorant (or unaware) is something to which one would have an extremely adverse reaction, it might well be better to remain 'blisffully' unaware. Especially if the unknown something is something you can do nothing about.

However, if you are a strong person, or the unknown information is something you can handle and adjust to, it is better to know.

Of course every situation is different, and thus it must be just a general rule that ignorance is bliss.

Personally I prefer always to know, no matter how bad it is.

[Starboy]

If the history of the world is any guide it would be more appropriate to say that ignorance is misery. However people in general are optimists so saying that ignorance is bliss is more about that then the relative merits of knowing vs. not knowing.

Starboy