Is ignorance bliss?

[bootwhistle]

I wonder what everyone things of the ol saying 'Ignorance is bliss', are people who don't know what is going on around them happier than those who are aware?

On the one hand I could see ignorance being used to protect oneself from the harsh realities of the world reducing complicated topics into simplistic and easily ignored problems.

Though on the other if someone was mindfully aware of everything around them and balanced that with impartial rationality they have much more control over how they would react to situations and have a measure of understanding that would give a sense of oneness with the world around them (haha a little over the top I admit).

Hmm, I've always assumed one can be much happier being ignorant, in fact one of my favourite sayings is:

"Some days I'd much rather be a blissfully ignorant idiot than unhappily aware"

Another way to look at it is from the perspective of small children vs adults, when one is a little kid they have no knowledge of the workings of the world around them and are thus relatively carefree. As one gets older and delves into the realities of surviving in society, and thereby lose the benefit of not caring about certain things.

That said, as an adult one has more control of their lives... but can that match not having to care?

Perhaps that isn't the right analogy either, maybe on a more day to day level say you have a group of friends and you all seem to get along just fine. Then one day you happen to learn that there a lot of backstabbing and petty jealousies under the surface of many in the group... is it better to know or not know?

In any event provide thy 2 cents, it will go towards a fund to buy the admins each a spork (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spork) for next Guy Fawkes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night) day.

[jadeliciousdk]

You have ventured into the territory of one of my favorite topics.
The saying "Ignorance is bliss" holds several meanings the most obvious one is the one with the backstabbing friends. I suppose that is how most people understand they saying and thereby linking it with the saying "What you don't know can't hurt you"

But in reality I think the saying holds a deep sense of irony, because though ignorence for a breif period of time might hold some bliss, it will in the end backfire trifold. The reason for this is the concept of illusions.

Illusions will cause you to build something upon a shaky or perhaps even non-existing foundation. It can be a belief, a friendship or a relationship - basicly anything.
Illusions can be homemade an idea that you make up yourself in order to hide from reality, but in terms of the saying "Ignorance is bliss" it would be a illusion caused by some third party. An example could be a person offering friendship who has a hidden agenda, hence you get the illusion of having a friendship, but in reality you are just being used.
In this case ignorance is never a bliss. Imagine building your existance on a lie somebody made you believe.

However this is where the irony shines the brightest, once you have been caught in the web you might be better off living in ignorance, living with the illusion. Because you could be absolutly devasted if the thruth were to unfold.
However the longer you live a lie the harder it is to finally accept the thruth.
So perhaps people are better off living in ignorence hence the saying... however in order for ignorance to truely to be a bliss, you would have to die before the illusion would break and then the thruth unfold.
To quote Hendrix "Castles made of sand melts into the sea eventually"

So my advice is try to avoid ignorance in the first place and you'll be better off :)

[Galathoria]

The dutch saying for Ignorance is bliss "Wat niet weet, dat niet deert" litterly means What you don't know, won't hurt you... thought this might add something to Jade's story.
I also think that there's alot you dont want to know, because when you know everything... you'll get lonely!

[DoubleZeta]

Somehow, ignorance could be much better... the truth about things is painful. Relatively, most people who aren't ignorant have a high tendency of losing their minds than those who are ignorant.

[avich]

While being ignorant can be relaxing, I believe that complete understanding over all things can give you a sense of security and will make you more happy. I think choosing to be ignorant to be happy are for people who don't care about others other than themselves, just like babies.

As Jade said, if you are ignorant, your living in an illusion.

[Bindu1000]

Hmmmm both Boot and Jadealicious have point and both can be looked at as correct

Boot - Yes, I totally understand your point as sometimes dealing with reality keeps me up at night. I rarely watch the news or read the papers anymore, as I find myself getting so depressed at whats going on. I cant stop my mind from going over some horribly sad story and it drains me of my joy of life. Knowing whats happening does give me a sense of security or even control over the situation. Instead I feel frustrated and helpless

But from the point Jade brought out - yes, I would hate to be the last to know, especially in cases of friends or relationships. I know a lot of couples where one party is cheating on the other and the one being cheated on lives on in bliss, thinking everything is fine and dandy in their home and no one tells them, coz they dont want to burst their bubbles. But sadly, burst they must and it hurts more, the longer the illusion has been going

Just to throw a spanner into the works - we have another saying "Angels watch, over lovers and fools" in other words, life has a way of protecting the innocent and gentle souls out there. So sometimes protects those in ignorance :4:

[bonki]

Knowing the harsh realities can be depressing but remember, never worry about anything that you can't do something about.

[russj]

the unexamined life is not worth living

[alrius2000]

Ignorance is bliss....
but

Ignorance of the Law is no excuse!!!
:emh24:

[bobobear]

ignorance of the law won't get you out of jail..
ignorance of the value of money are only for trust fund babies and they learn fast when they lose it all
ignorance for the sake of ignorance is just plain ignorant
you only feel bliss when you stop caring
avoiding the situation won't help you grow

[Soujiro Ken]

well, the truth hurts, ne~?
being ignorant about the cruel things happening around you is a blissful way of living life..
but, personally, I think it's even more depressing to live entirely ignorant about those stuffs.. XD

[OVirus53]

Knowledge is a double-edged sword.

The more you know, the heavier it is a load to bear.

[musikalles]

In a way, the statement "Ignorance is bliss" makes me think of really young children, or even the mentally handicapped.

It comes down to innocence.
When there aren't any variables, the equation is easy.
It's true that life leads to experience which leads to knowledge and the loss of that innocence.
Which leads to stress.
And phenomena like mid-life crisis XD

[mlcdl]

ignorance of the law won't get you out of jail..
ignorance of the value of money are only for trust fund babies and they learn fast when they lose it all
ignorance for the sake of ignorance is just plain ignorant
you only feel bliss when you stop caring
avoiding the situation won't help you grow


I agree... I don't think that this saying should be taken as a positive because of this one.

[musikalles]

That's very true. Ignorance and avoidance have different connotations though. If you're ignorant, you don't know, but you also don't know any better- you're oblivious. If you choose to not know, that's stupidity and should be dealt with as a crime when things go wrong because you have tangible blame to take.

[Snoozy19]

People with no awareness about the dangers of life are indeed the happy ones but sometimes ignorance is needed.
I'm a relaxed person when I go out but it doesn't mean that I'm ignorant, I simply understand the nature of danger when I sense it.

So in a case, having ignorance is an asset to people so they can be safer and more aware of their surroundings.

[MioAkiyama]

ignoreance is a bliss
i understand this term by
a person ignoring someone that made that certain person mad
and is not gonna talk or see with that person ~

[B0b]

Let me tell you a truth of the world. No matter what you think, you're always ignorant.

[mlcdl]

Let me tell you a truth of the world. No matter what you think, you're always ignorant.

The saying "the truth hurts" is also because of this one. It's true that no one knows everything so that's why every people is ignorant but using ignorant in a lot of times means that your only excusing yourself.

[musikalles]

This is a good point. However, "The truth will set you free"... knowledge is power, freedom, but you are then considered accountable. It can be easier and simpler (more carefree) to not have that responsibility.

[Graveflower]

I'd say its circumstantial. As many have made such points already, it would depend on the context of how one uses the word Ignorant or Ignorance. It is like OVirus53 said "Knowledge is a double-edged sword. The more you know, the heavier it is a load to bear". Though not knowing of some things could be regrettable.

[RogueArch]

I hate to say this but...

We are all ignorant because we can't know about all things. Therefore, if we all differ to the degree of ignorance than does that not mean that none can achieve "bliss"?

Maybe in moments of complete understanding we sudden feel a moment of ecxasty. The final pop of the lightbulb finally going off....

... point is, we're all ignorant of something. even ignorant of ignorance... which just gets confusing no?

[Kobowo]

simply put, more or less people are divided into groups of those who want to know and those who just want to live the way they are...
but those who want to know would wish they didnt know them once they do >.> its better not knowing most of the time...I mean if you knew when you would exactly die and it was soon then wouldnt your rather not know?