Contingency and Happiness

A while back in lecture, we discussed "what makes you, you" and during the lecture we delved into understanding  the term “contingency.” We looked at the difference between contingent and non-contingent items, as well as compared contingency and necessity.

The word "contingent" is somewhat difficult to define because it is basically saying that something is dependant on another items, in order for the primary items to come true. Merriam-Webster defines contingency as, "something liable to happen as an adjunct to or the result of something else."

http://zombierobots.net/talk-about-luck

This lecture really made me think about what are some of the biggest contingencies in my life, as well as some of the biggest contingencies in society as a whole. There was one big idea that popped into my head immediately, and that was that our happiness is contingent on material items and material wealth. I think that we live in a society where success and happiness is thought to be contingent on how much money you make. People think that if you are filthy rich, you can buy happiness and that all of the material items in the world will make you happy. In all honesty, I tend to measure happiness and success in a monatary and material measuring scale, because having the ability to buy the most expensive clothes, big houses, and luxury cars will often influence others perception of you that you are a "big shot." We tend to think that money and material wealth is the key to happiness, and that we can have anything we desire if we have enough wealth. I think that this idea of success and happiness being contingent on material possession is something that has been created and made into a mainstream idea by society.

Does money really buy happiness? Well, to be honest, I don't have an answer to that question. I would like to say "no" but as a student trying to work his way through college, I can say that life would be much easier and I think I would be much happier if I didn't have to worry about money, and I think that I would be happy if I could have whatever I want. The images below seem like a pretty awesome way to live in my opinion. Now, I know that the Beatles said that "Money can't buy me love" but I am having doubts about the validity of that statement. Is it really possible to be happy and successful without money and material wealth?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugatti_Veyron

http://www.clientsiderealtors.com/blog/mansion-market-bounces-back-with-a-bang.htm

During lecture, we also talked about contingent facts of birth, which are items that are contingent of a person, but are not contingent on anything that the individual could have done. This would include hereditary skills, such as athletic ability or height in some cases. I think that location is another items that is contingent, but something that we can't really help. I was thinking about how lucky I am to have been born in the United States of America, and how the opportunities that I have been provided with in my life are contingent around being born in the United States. Sure, there are many things that can be accomplished by people not born in the United States, and they have many of the same opportunities that natural born United States citizens have, but there are some things limited to only natural born United States citizens. The one big opportunity that stuck out to me what that running for President of the United States is contingent on being a natural-born United States citizen. (Contrary to what some people believe, I believe that President Obama was born in the United States). Much of our opportunities are contingent on things that we can't really control. Once again, this proposes the question of whether or not contingent facts should control our lives? Should an individual that is not a "natural-born" United States citizen be able to run for President of the United States of America?

What are some non-contingent things? Well, in lecture we gave a couple examples of non-contingent items, such as the inability to avoid getting older, and the basic principle that 2+2 = 4 and that is not going to change. These are the things that are going to happen regardless of whether we want them to happen, or not. The non-contingent fact about getting older kind of made me realize that I am only going to have my youth once, therefore I should probably start enjoying it, because there will be a time when I look back and will either say that I wish I would have done that when I was younger, or that I am glad that I did that when I was younger (or, at least my parents say that). 

This picture is about veterans, but can also be interpreted as looking in the mirror at an old age, and seeing a younger version staring back. (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=518713028140289&set=a.114110731933856.18729.112018892143040&type=1&theater)

So, what's the point? Well, that is an open-ended question because the point can be a wide array of topics, ranging from questions about society, the importance of wealth and how that correlates to success and happiness, or how non-contingent things shape our lives. For me, the point was to try and distinguish what in life really is contingent...Is my entire life (hopes, dreams, aspirations) entirely contingent on getting an A on this blog or an A in the course? Maybe, highly unlikely, but maybe. This lecture really made me think about what it is that really is contingent, and whether or not I am paying attention to the things that are contingent (or that I view as contingent) and letting those things ruining my life, when I should be enjoying what it is that I currently have and should be enjoying.