Why would a perfect happiness drug make one lazy and less engaged ?
I guess it depends on how we define happiness.
In my view the perfect happiness drug would have the exact opposite effect, i.e. make people more functional, less prone to stress and anxiety.
Realizing happiness that is independent of conditions, would result in may result in diminished drive from activities that are driving by the seemingly insatiable ambition for greater perceived social status that is currently the normative state of the human race.
But that would be compensated because a greater portion of our drive coming from compassion and curiosity.
So more curiosity, and more solving of useful problems.
Some evidence of this can be had from contemplative activity can dismantle the mechanism in the brain the inhibits happiness without the aid of drugs*.
This sort of expertise is difficult and requires extended practice, so it can be confused with disengagement. Many often later go on to have considerable impact on human culture and values.
I guess it depends on how we define happiness.
In my view the perfect happiness drug would have the exact opposite effect, i.e. make people more functional, less prone to stress and anxiety.
Realizing happiness that is independent of conditions, would result in may result in diminished drive from activities that are driving by the seemingly insatiable ambition for greater perceived social status that is currently the normative state of the human race.
But that would be compensated because a greater portion of our drive coming from compassion and curiosity.
So more curiosity, and more solving of useful problems.
Some evidence of this can be had from contemplative activity can dismantle the mechanism in the brain the inhibits happiness without the aid of drugs*.
This sort of expertise is difficult and requires extended practice, so it can be confused with disengagement. Many often later go on to have considerable impact on human culture and values.
This is both subjectively verifiable, and objectively via brain scans one example outlined below. http://brainimaging.waisman.wisc.edu/press/NCCAMOct08.pdf