Philosophy: Pleasure vs. Happiness

Last Thursday we had discussion #2 for the Philosophy topic of Happiness (see Here Comes the Sun for discussion #1).

Discussion topic: what is the difference between pleasure and happiness?

I kicked things off by reading We Were Tired of Living in a House by Liesel Moark Skorpen.

Then I put forth this proposal: pleasure is short-term, but happiness is long-term. Each of the places the children tried to live in felt good in the moment -- and each had its little pleasures -- but ultimately they wanted to go back home and live in a house again.

I also explained the difference between a debit card (the cup of chips) vs. a credit card (the empty lid).

With a debit card, you are pulling from something. Money is in the bank.

With a credit card, you have nothing. The lid is empty. You are borrowing money and promising to pay it back. And then the bill comes in the mail!

Shopping feels good in the short term (pleasure) but long-term happiness comes from not having a huge amount of debt hanging over your head.

ALL of the children had seen a credit card, but NONE of them had ever seen a credit card bill. So I printed out a few of my Discover card statements over the years, enough for them to each have two bills to look at. I let them find and circle the following things on the bills, starting with the older one.

date

interest rate

total amount of interest paid year-to-date

credit score

Then I asked them to compare the two bills and let me know their general observations. I explained all about credit score (from 300 to 850... a higher number is better) and interest rate (where a lower number is better).

Then I had everyone go around and read off the New Balance amount.

They realized that the balance had changed very little over the years. I explained that when you have a large balance at a high interest rate, if you make only the minimum payment, most of that payment goes to the interest and it barely knocks down the principal. This is even more true if you continue using the card. Lastly, I drew their attention to this little box:

Imagine how it would feel to still be paying your credit cards at the age of 90! It was a very important lesson for them, and I think it had a big impact.

To me this lesson perfectly summarizes the difference between pleasure and happiness. What do you think?

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