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."

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Concluding conversation

Ashley, Shira, and Jennifer,

UPDATE, May 3. I'd hoped you all would use the discussion thread below this post for a more extensive concluding conversation amongst yourselves, and intended to add my own more extensive comments. Alas, you know the saying about the best-laid plans etc.; I tested positive for COVID yesterday, I'm not feeling too chatty. I'll post grades as soon as I can. I hope you've gained some insight into the philosophy of happiness, and will continue to reflect on its centrality to life. As Wm James said, how to gain and keep and recover it is "our chief concern." And as he also knew, health is a big part of it. He told a friend: "Keep your health, your splendid health. It's worth all the truths in the firmament."

[Re-posting this... Please conclude your conversation in the comments space here by April 30. jpo]

Go ahead and post your thoughts on Russell's Conquest of Happiness and whatever else you'd like to read and discuss, in the brief time that remains. Then, for your final project, post a summary of what you've found insightful or not in the texts you've read AND discuss your respective conclusions/reflections/questions with each other. Maybe we can launch that discussion here, beginning with these questions:

What new insights into happiness do you take away from your reading and reflection this semester?

What do you find most/least helpful in Haybron, Russell, ____?

Have you come across other texts/sources you intend to pursue after the semester ends?

[Add your own questions...]

9 comments:

  1. That sounds great; thank you, Dr. Oliver!

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  2. Thank you for the final project starter questions.
    Also-

    Reposting final reading thoughts:
    Bentley's Momma: [I didn't see anyone else comment but I was leaning towards: More Than Happiness: Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom for a Sceptical Age. What does everyone else think?]

    Earlier Bentley's Momma suggested reading More than Happiness:Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom for a Skeptical Age. I agree this sounds like an interesting read. Or perhaps Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life.

    Jennifer

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  3. With time so short it might be best to focus on the questions I've prompted you with here, or any others that occur to any of you; and to respond to one another in this discussion thread.

    But if any of you read any of those additional texts, or anything else of interest that you'd like to share, this site remains available to you. Lifelong learning is best, after all.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Dr. Oliver, and that is very true; I always tell my son that I don't think we ever stop learning, until it's our time to go. :)

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  4. Thanks Dr. Oliver! Also, in my final post I said I'm interesting in reading these books in the future:

    The book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a changing World and The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living.

    SL

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  5. At our Lyceum event last night on campus, we welcomed the distinguished philosopher Richard Eldridge. He spoke of Stanley Cavell's "The Pursuits of Happiness" and ways in which Hollywood has depicted a kind of happiness in marriage (and re-marriage) in classic comedies rooted in the deepest form of friendship. He's worried that our era is not so open to such profound friendship, and thus may be cutting itself off from the most profound happiness. Worth pondering.

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  6. Dr. Oliver, I hope that you are able to rest and recover quickly from Covid. I also have been under the weather diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. I did want to send a small blurb of my final thoughts on the last questions. Just as food for thought:

    What new insights into happiness do you take away from your reading and reflection this semester?

    I believe that happiness cannot be defined or categorized as so many philosophers have tried. The idea of happiness that we know is a set of constructed norms. It is impossible to fit everyone’s perceptions and preferences into those set norms. I believe that happiness is bigger than we realize and expands beyond our comprehension.

    There are few things within the readings from Haybron and Russell that stood out. Happiness tends to find us when we are not looking for it, or when we are externally seeking experiences rather than internally dwelling on ourselves.

    I think I found that the secret to happiness is letting every situation be what it is instead of what you think it should be, and then making the best of it. I believe Haybron said something similar.

    “Haybron touches on the emotional state theory of well being. This theory is broader than simply feeling happiness. Attunement is a mental state characterized by the kind of emotional evaluation of one’s life of being at peace with one’s self. Happiness isn't the absence of problems. It's the ability to deal with them. Feeling sad after hardships or a challenging decision doesn't mean it was the wrong decision or that circumstance was in itself wrong.’

    I think if we are forced to remove all the obstacles and “things” in our paths that make us happy or that we can blame our unhappiness on, then we are forced to look at and truly work on ourselves and take responsibility for our mentality over our happiness. That's not easy to do. Nor is it something we are taught or practice. I think the state of happiness that Russell touches on in a practiced mentality. Almost like self worth. You can decide that your self worth is valuable, just as one can decide to operate under the best umbrella of happiness. This agin can pertain within the walls of marriage. You have to wake up everyday and choose to unconditionally love another person, honestly, despite happiness; because less than joyful emotions will certainly arise. Having a solid foundation of friendship is important. Without it, there is very little to stand on. I agree that newer concepts of marriage discredit friendship as if it is something to be shunned. Physical connection is boasted. A connection that often easily fades in the midst of challenges and seasons of ….unhappiness. I had a conversation about friendship with my husband. He mentioned that growing up, being a friend when the intention was a relationship, was often disheartening because he was “taught” that was failure. Rather than our society focusing on the benefits that two individuals can bring into a relationship situation, both contributing their own experiences and ideas of what it is to be happy and content with another person, our society frowns upon the connection that is so desperately needed to sustain, and pursue happiness. After all, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness would be nothing without shared experiences.


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  7. ^^^^ Jennifer James ^^^^

    Thank you and have a great summer

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You don’t need a pill: Neo

It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness True happiness is... to enjoy the present, without anxious dependen...