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Moral Philosophy on Happiness
How easy is it to attain happiness?
Moral philosophy tells us that the problem becomes complex when we attempt to spell it out: what does it mean to live the “good life”?
Is it all about pleasure?
Is based on strict moral principles?
Or is it the praise of others?
The need for happiness becomes acute when it disappears Sense of something
missing Is joy the equivalent of
happiness?
Hedonism: Happiness as Pleasure
Aristippus described happiness as the sum total of pleasures experienced during one’s life
He asked, is there anything greater than being happy?
Historian Laertius commented on Aristippus stating that from the time people are able to make choices they choose options that have the most pleasure and least pain
Hedonism: happiness as equivalent to physical pleasure and to possession of things that bring pleasure
Think of “Carpe Diem”
“He who dies with the most toys wins”
Hedonism carries reputation of recklessness
There never seems to be enough pleasurable moments in life
Epicureanism: Happiness Is Avoiding Pain
The ending of a bad toothache as happiness
Epicurus was critical of excessive pleasure arguing that no life could ever be long enough if happiness was the increase of continual physical pleasures
Epicurus assumption: no one can sustain pleasure over long periods of time, therefore, this cannot be the complete definition of happiness
Stoicism: Happiness as a Strategy for Survival
Philosophy tells us not to plan ahead for a lifetime of unlimited pleasure nor to expect to avoid pain through discipline and moderation
Asserts pain is intrinsic to living
best course is to be prepared for the worst and develop techniques for dealing
Sees will as the means through which each of us can control our responses to external events
To find roots of unhappiness, we must look inward for answers
Nothing is under our control except how we think and deal with things
Artistotelianism: Happiness as the Quality
of a Whole Lifetime Happiness as the purpose
for which we live
Happiness is living and having a good life
a good life means being on the right path
The reason that we want material things is that they provide happiness but they are not happiness in themselves
Defines happiness as the highest or final good. Our highest achievements
Reason is equated with virtue
Happiness is a life in accordance with reason and virtue
Also argue that the only goal of government is to see that its people are happy
Eastern Philosophy on Happiness
Gandhi: Hindu teaches that the divine spirit dwells within each person
Therefore, the great soul is fundamentally good
Desires (physical and material) lead to despair and frustration
Multiplied by an entire population, there becomes oppression, war, violence that is cyclical
Buddhists: bliss or nirvana is a twofold nature
Hinayana: involves moral conduct- self-help; lifting of spirits
Mahayana: larger perspective – helping others- without self congratulations- takes tremendous sacrifice
Happiness GenerallyThough the
definitions may vary, are there overall elements that are required for something to be considered happiness?
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