Are Stupid People Happier?

Ignorance is Bliss?

The famous English poet, Thomas Gray, once said “Ignores is bliss.” One has to wonder if he is right. The dictionary defines ignorance as “the condition of being uneducated, uniformed or unaware.” It follows that being unaware of a particular fact, situation or thing will make a person happier. So how come more people aren’t happier?

A recent study by the University of Edinburgh seems to support that there is not a direct correlation between how smart a person is and how happy they are. Practically speaking, however, there seems to be “proof” that this is simply untrue. Intelligent people may very well be better equipped to deal with a particular situation or problem. Conversely, they may constantly strive to better themselves or their situation. This could lead to a feeling of dissatisfaction with their lives.

To put this in more easily understood terms, consider the author whose recently published book has just been reviewed by a major literary publication. Many authors will choose not to read reviews of their work, preferring instead to remain comfortably in the dark regarding the opinions of critics. Others will read every last word written about their work. Some of these will take the criticism and put it to good use, others will agonize over every word they write, always striving to beat the critics. Who is happier? It is difficult to tell.

Some people choose to ignore what happens around them because they do not want to see. Parents of children struggling with drug or alcohol abuse are a perfect example. They do not see their child drinking and driving or getting high simply because they do not want to know that their child has a problem. For them, perhaps, ignorance is bliss, at least temporarily.

If you ask a room full of people to write down five things that will make them happy, you are unlikely to see ‘knowledge’ appear on anyone’s list. It is interesting to note, however, that many of the things men strive for, a better paying job, purchasing a home or developing a skill or talent, does require specific knowledge or intelligence.

Many researchers believe that happiness is actually a matter of biology, that the genes we inherit from our parents predispose us to happiness. Humans are more than the sum of their parts and a new branch of psychology believes that we can make ourselves be happy. Positive thinking, optimism and mindfulness can all help us become happier people. As an added benefit, happier people tend to live longer lives.

Perhaps the true answer to the question is that stupid people are not happier, rather that people who use the tools given to them to consciously better themselves and their lives can find themselves in a place where they can be happy. Maybe Thomas Gray was wrong when he said “tis folly to be wise.”

Is ignorance bliss? It depends on the person and the situation. What makes one person happy may not work for another. Ignoring events around you may allow you to exist peacefully, but at the end of the day just because you do not recognize an event, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

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