Difference between revisions of "Fall 2013 Happiness Class Class Notes 1"

Revision as of 16:37, 5 September 2013

1. Classical Greek Models of Happiness

1. The Greek Philosophical Models in Plato and Aristotle

Plato

Contrast the Symposium with the cult of Dionysius
Reasoning our way to the Good (Happiness). Symposium as purification ritual. bad desire/good desire
Object of desire is transcendent. (Reminder about Platonic metaphysics.)

Aristotle (note McMahon pp. 41ff and Aristotle reading)

end, function, craft, techne. Hierarchy of arts.
end vs. final end -- the universal good is the final end, not relative. sec. 6-7.
happiness as activity of the soul in accordance with virture (def., but also consequence of reasoning from nature of human life)
Section 13: nature of the soul. two irrational elements: veg/appetitive and one rational. Note separation/relationship.
Aristotle's extra conditions ....

2. The Greek Cultural Model

Connection of the culture with tragedy, appreciate of fate, happiness as gift of gods.
Dionysian culture

2. Some Comments on Philosophical Method.

first example from first class day: listing phenomena, making distinctions, posing questions, looking for relationships.

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
-.  Philosophical Method.
+.  Some Comments on Philosophical Method.
-:*what we did in #1
+:*first example from first class day: listing phenomena, making distinctions, posing questions, looking for relationships.
-:*some reminders about argument.
+:*
-. Happiness Descriptors
-:*Winning
-:*Success
-:*Clicking submit during registration and getting all your classes
-:*Every day of summer
-:*Meditating on a mountain
-:*Picking fruit
-:*Hearing a room of applause and knowing it is for you
-:*Playing with a puppy
-:*Skiing down a mountain
-:*Sense of relief after completing something
-:*Playing music at a house party
-:*Dance parties
-Some of these are in two categories: Life Happiness (H subscript L ) or State Happiness (H subscript S)