The fun criterion involves embracing conflicting thoughts and using creativity to find solutions.
Fun and thwarting situations both involve unexpected challenges, but differ in how they are approached.
The distinction between fun and thwarting lies in the processes of thinking and problem-solving rather than specific ideas or beliefs.
Deep dives
The Difference Between Fun and Thwarting
The fun criterion states that when your explicit ideas and your in explicit ideas are in alignment, it leads to a state of enjoyment and problem-solving. While the mind is full of contradictory ideas, it's not about the ideas themselves, but the processes behind them that determine whether a situation is fun or not.
Interpreting and Resolving Conflicting Ideas
Interpreting the fun criterion involves understanding that it's not about making your ideas consistent, but rather embracing the conflicting thoughts within your mind. The goal is to use creativity to find solutions and resolve the conflicts, rather than aiming for complete consistency in ideas.
The Importance of Unexpected Challenges
Both fun and thwarting situations involve encountering unexpected challenges. The key difference lies in how one interprets and approaches these challenges. Fun arises when unexpected problems are seen as opportunities for creativity and problem-solving, while thwarting occurs when these challenges hinder progress and cause frustration.
Determining What Causes Suffering and Enjoyment
Identifying the exact features of a situation that lead to suffering or enjoyment is complex and often subjective. While there may be objective differences between the two, they can vary depending on personal interpretations, individual characteristics, and the specific context of the situation.
Processes vs. Ideas in Determining Fun
The distinction between fun and thwarting lies more in the processes of thinking and problem-solving rather than the specific ideas or beliefs involved. It is the way in which different processes are affected and hindered that determines whether a situation is enjoyable or frustrating.
