ChatGPT draw a happy dog… wait don’t kill it!
A person ask ChatGPT to make an image of a happy dog, and then he ask to make it even happier…
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Wait, why did ChatGPT killed the dog? There was a dog, and then no dog, so the dog ended his individual existence and one could argue it become enlightened become one with the universe (a psychedelic fluid light universe… a conceptual image of string theory?)
So is happiness the no existence? But the no existence is nothing and nothing can’t be anything, not even happiness… so the no existence can only be the absence of No happiness. Not the same thing.
So what is happiness?
That is a too complex question, but one may pose it in more feasible way, even if only approximated.
Let's consider that “happiness” is something that we as biological creatures experience with our brains as a result of complex anatomical and physiological processes triggered by purely biological or social inputs. Let us imagine we are able (maybe using deep learning models) to assess the brain activity and main neurotransmitters concentrations patterns associated with happy moments.
Examples of main human neurotransmitters associated with happiness
Dopamine: Often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, dopamine is associated with reward and pleasure. It plays a crucial role in the brain’s reward system, and increased dopamine levels are linked to positive reinforcement and feelings of enjoyment.
Serotonin: This neurotransmitter is known to contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness. Imbalances in serotonin levels are often associated with mood disorders like depression. Many antidepressant medications work by affecting serotonin levels in the brain.
Endorphins: These are the body’s natural painkillers, and they also contribute to feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Endorphins are released during activities such as exercise, laughter, and even certain types of stress.
Oxytocin: Often referred to as the “love hormone” or “bonding hormone,” oxytocin is associated with social bonding, trust, and positive social interactions. It is released during activities like hugging, cuddling, and social bonding, contributing to feelings of happiness and connection.
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): While primarily an inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA also plays a role in regulating anxiety and promoting a sense of calm. An imbalance in GABA levels can contribute to feelings of unease and restlessness.
Then we could identify happy moments by these general patterns. Given that, then we could go from happy moments to “happiness” thinking on it as the probability distribution of happy moments.
Under this considerations thing gets interesting because if we compare two normal happiness distributions then the one with greater mean would be considered to belong to a more happy person. But that would mean no super ecstasy happy moments are ever experienced. On the other hand it also means no horrific moment of pain are experienced.
In this terms I may have an answer about a meme questioning “Family man” movie that: “Is the learning of the movie that having kids makes you unhappy and pover?”
I would say no, having kids change your probability distribution of happy moments from a gaussian to a heavy tailed distribution, so typically a person without kids could have a much more stable happy moments distribution but would not experience those marabale moments of full love (also would not feel the pain of losing a kid).
Of course having kids is not the only method to get a heavy tailed Happy Moments Probability Distribution (HMPD)but is one selected by nature. Even if a population of humans manage to have the best HMPD by no having kids in the long run they would be overcome by other populations that does have kids.
By posing the problem in this way, then we could ask ourselves what would be the portfolio of biological and cultural inputs that optimise our HMPD, consistent with our particular biological reality (i.e., anatomic and physiological health) and life opportunities.
Getting back to the ChatGPT interpretation that I interpret in terms of too much co-occurance of the “happiness” term with budism. A basic problem with ChatGPT and any other Lsrge Lenguage Model (LLM), the dependence with training data and potential a posterior reinforcement from net training data that comes from the LLM itself.
For me, the ChatGPT solution to ultimate happiness was to collapse the HMPD to a Dirac delta at the origin, characteristic of the non-existence. Of course, this is a clear oversimplification of buddhism considering only what I identify as a foundational principle.
In general I think that the Four Noble Truths have as objective function the non-existance:
Dukkha (Suffering): Life is characterized by suffering, unsatisfactoriness, and dissatisfaction. This suffering can manifest in various forms, including physical and emotional pain, but it is inherent in the human experience.Samudaya (Cause of Suffering): The cause of suffering is craving (tanha) and attachment. It’s the desire for pleasure, possessions, and the clinging to things that are impermanent. This craving leads to a cycle of suffering and rebirth.
Nirodha (Cessation of Suffering): There is a way to end suffering by extinguishing craving and attachment. Attaining liberation, or Nirvana, involves overcoming the causes of suffering and breaking the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Magga (Path to the Cessation of Suffering): The Noble Eightfold Path is the practical guide to the cessation of suffering. It consists of ethical and mental guidelines that lead to wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline.
But this is equivalent to the trivial solution to any given problem… The solution to the problem is not having the pri lemon in first place.
Si don’t kill the dog in pursuit of ultimate happiness.
