Should we be happy?

If you are literally right next to a child who is starving to death, and you do nothing, are you morally justified to enjoy life? Could you enjoy a TV show, play basketball, shop (or whatever you do that provides joy)?

What is that child is in the next room? What if that starving child is in your community, but a mile away? What if that child is across the world? At what point is it ok to do nothing and think you are entitled to enjoy your life? Why does physical distance proportionally relate to what our moral obligations should be?

At what point does the suffering of others overwhelm your own ability to be happy. If you are happy or unhappy, it won't help that child, so why not enjoy life (or is that wrong). What if you do a little to help (which is more than most people), is that enough? Do we need to completely dedicate oneself to helping those who are suffering in order to earn the right to be justifiably happy? 

How often should we talk about these things? Should it be part of grade school discussions? Is it anyone's responsibly to contemplate ethics outside of religion or an advanced liberal arts education?

Or does this ask too much of humans, who are innately selfish. Just being part of a society/civilization is hard enough. We see in wars what humans are like when they are not constrained by rules and it is worse than anything in the animal kingdom.

Should we try to maximize happiness for others or reduce suffering for them. Or should we be focused on "providing opportunities" for others and have that just be enough. There are not only personal questions (and ones I think about very often), but should also be political questions. If you are working in government, are an elected official, or a political party; how do you stand on these issues? Philosophy, like the mission of an organization, should be the foundation of our lives and our government. 


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