I completely disagree with the position argued by some here that “happiness that comes from having mistaken beliefs isn’t valuable.” I think that such happiness is a good and valuable thing. I do not think it is merely “less bad” than other things; I think it is good. The false belief is bad, but the happiness that comes from it is good.
I do not think that my position about this is an unusual position for people to hold. It is fairly common for me not to correct someone’s false belief because I think they are happier and better off with the false belief than without it, and this is something that many other people do as well. Likewise, I know of a number of formerly religious people who explicitly envy their formerly religious self; if they could push a button to get back their false belief and the happiness it caused, they would push it. But they do not think there is such a button.
I completely disagree with the position argued by some here that “happiness that comes from having mistaken beliefs isn’t valuable.” I think that such happiness is a good and valuable thing. I do not think it is merely “less bad” than other things; I think it is good. The false belief is bad, but the happiness that comes from it is good.
I do not think that my position about this is an unusual position for people to hold. It is fairly common for me not to correct someone’s false belief because I think they are happier and better off with the false belief than without it, and this is something that many other people do as well. Likewise, I know of a number of formerly religious people who explicitly envy their formerly religious self; if they could push a button to get back their false belief and the happiness it caused, they would push it. But they do not think there is such a button.