- How did the "Against Happiness" authors/editors begin the project of this book? Of what is it an assessment? What are their goals?
- Do you agree with Emerson about the purpose of life?
- Why should we be humble about happiness as a goal? What's WEIRD? 3-4
- What's missing from the way social sciences currently conceive of happiness? 10-11
- What concept is "much more capacious" than happiness? 16 Do you agree that "there is no kind of happiness that everyone wants"? 17
- In April 2022 the CDC reported what about teens? 30 Does this surprise or sadden you? What can be done about it?
- What kind of happiness does Martin Seligman promote? 32
- Can Callicles be happy? 36
- What's the meta-happiness paradox? 41
Awe
…is "the absence of self-preoccupation."
This is especially critical in the age of social media. "We are at this cultural moment of narcissism and self-shame and criticism and entitlement; awe gets us out of that," Dr. Keltner said. It does this by helping us get out of our own heads and "realize our place in the larger context, our communities," he explained.
The good news? Awe is something you can develop, with practice. Here's how…
5. What concept is "much more capacious" than happiness? 16 Do you agree that "there is no kind of happiness that everyone wants"? 17
ReplyDeleteThe concept of well-being is much more capacious than happiness, and I would agree with that. I would also agree that there is no kind of happiness that everyone wants, as I would imagine that with all kinds of objective happiness, there requires a sacrifice or a lack of happiness on someone else's part. While things like world peace, climate protection, and ending hunger are admirable and widely accepted, there are still opponents to these views.
8. Can Callicles be happy? 36
ReplyDeleteAccording to Aristotle, no. While he does live satisfied in doing what he wants, he lacks a "goodness" that most Aristotelians attribute to moral and intellectual excellence. Callicles may even be intellectually sound, but without a moral excellence, he cannot be "happy" in a eudaimon sense.
2.Do you agree with Emerson about the purpose of life?
ReplyDeleteIn many ways, yes. I feel that living an honorable, compassionate and serviceable life is something to strive for. In fact, some of these facets may even bring happiness as a result. However, I don't think that happiness can ultimately promote a morally good or fulfilling life.