anger

This note last modified September 1, 2024

Is anger valuable?

I feel so oddly on the fence about this because anger is such a poisonous emotion, and so much of the philosophy of happiness talks about letting go of anger. On the other hand, I can’t deny that a lot of good has come out of anger. People have improved their lives because of anger at their circumstances. Corrupt regimes have been overthrown because of anger at their corruption.

Anger is a powerful motivational tool, though stoicism can help turn it into a tool instead of letting it control you.

Tags: stoicism, pain is a motivator

If you are angry, but intelligent enough to understand the source of your anger, does it matter? Does it mean anything to explain yourself after you’ve lashed out?

violence
- Tag: anger
the power of emotions
- see anger and pain is a motivator
stoicism
- Stoicism is a philosophy of emotional intelligence. A stoic understands why an event makes them feel happy or sad, and understands the value of those emotions, without letting emotions control them. A stoic might be happy, but their happiness does not derive solely from their surroundings, and will retain their happiness even if they lose their material wealth. Similarly, a stoic might endure some hardship, and feel sad as a tool to deal it, but won’t let their sadness define them, won’t lash out in anger.
pain is a motivator
- Similarly to my thoughts on anger, I feel weird about pain. Many of my biggest productive life changes have come from my being in pain. As a matter of fact, I often put myself in painful situations because I recognize that I grow a lot from doing things.
memes
- In CGP Grey’s video “This video will make you angry”, Grey argues that anger inducing ideas are selected for and survive the “environment” of discourse and our political landscape.
jealousy
- I do recognize that this note is a bit naive and trite, I talk a bit more about the nuances in money can't buy happiness and anger
anger is an emotion
- anger