Successor site to the Philosophy of Happiness blog (http://philoshap.blogspot.com/) that supported PHIL 3160 at MTSU, 2011-2019. The course returns Fall 2025.
PHIL 3160 – Philosophy of Happiness
What is it, how can we best pursue it, why should we? Supporting the study of these and related questions at Middle Tennessee State University and beyond. "Examining the concept of human happiness and its application in everyday living as discussed since antiquity by philosophers, psychologists, writers, spiritual leaders, and contributors to pop culture."
Sunday, October 10, 2021
"How to live?"
Is this, perhaps, a misplaced question mark?! What about...
How? To live!
But what exactly, then, is the question? Montaigne found at least twenty ways to answer his vague question. Shortening the question seems to make it vaguer still. But isn't the point that there are many ways to live well and to flourish? And don't we need to explore the specifics, in detail?
How?...to be happy...is to live...with many of our questions never being answered, and that's okay!!! Yes, there are many ways to "live well and to flourish", but isn't exploring the specifics in that way where we find the devil?!! I guess that's okay as long as we know where to keep our foot!
We Pragmatic Pluralist-Epicureans don't believe in the devil (or at least we don't believe in a devil who concerns himself with us). Exploring the specifics of happiness is exactly what we're here for.
I'd have to agree with the professor just for the sheer vagueness of the answer "to live" almost being benign. And what is the question, "How?" Yes, you could extrapolate on the many inferences that basic question could result in but it also seems just an unnecessary breakdown of the very obscure initial question.
But what exactly, then, is the question? Montaigne found at least twenty ways to answer his vague question. Shortening the question seems to make it vaguer still. But isn't the point that there are many ways to live well and to flourish? And don't we need to explore the specifics, in detail?
ReplyDeleteHow?...to be happy...is to live...with many of our questions never being answered, and that's okay!!! Yes, there are many ways to "live well and to flourish", but isn't exploring the specifics in that way where we find the devil?!! I guess that's okay as long as we know where to keep our foot!
ReplyDeleteWe Pragmatic Pluralist-Epicureans don't believe in the devil (or at least we don't believe in a devil who concerns himself with us). Exploring the specifics of happiness is exactly what we're here for.
DeleteI'd have to agree with the professor just for the sheer vagueness of the answer "to live" almost being benign. And what is the question, "How?" Yes, you could extrapolate on the many inferences that basic question could result in but it also seems just an unnecessary breakdown of the very obscure initial question.
ReplyDelete