HARMONYcontribution. It takes both dopamine and H&N to attain happiness, the
state of being that the philosopher Aristotle considered to be the goal
of all other goals.
Our dopamine circuits are what make us human. They are what give
our species its special power. We think. We plan. We imagine. We ele-
vate our thoughts to ponder abstract concepts such as truth, justice,
and beauty. Within those circuits we transcend all barriers of space
and time. We thrive in the most hostile environments—even in outer
space—thanks to our ability to dominate the world around us. But these
same circuits can also lead us down a darker path, a path of addiction,
betrayal, and misery. If we aim to be great, we will probably have to
accept the fact that misery will be a part of it. It’s the goad of dissatis-
faction that keeps us at our work while others are enjoying the company
of family and friends.
But those of us who prefer a life of happy fulfillment have a differ-
ent task to accomplish: the task of finding harmony. We have to over-
come the seduction of endless dopaminergic stimulation and turn our
backs on our never-ending hunger for more. If we are able to inter-
mingle dopamine with H&N, we can achieve that harmony. All dopa-
mine all the time is not the path to the best possible future. It’s sensory
reality and abstract thought working together that unlocks the brain’s
full potential. Operating at its peak performance, it becomes capable
of producing not only happiness and satisfaction, not only wealth and
knowledge, but a rich mixture of sensory experience and wise under-
standing, a mixture that can set us down the path toward a more bal-
anced way of being human.