Fall 2014 Happiness Class Study Questions

Return to Happiness

SEP 4

1. What is the relationship between classical greek philosophical culture (from Pericles to Alexander) and traditional greek culture concerning happiness?

2. How does the Symposium represent Plato's view of happiness?

3. How does Aristotle alter Plato's view?

4. In what ways are the Hellenic schools (Stoics and Epicureans) continuing and changing the classical philosophical model?

5. What are some of the structural features of the Greek models of happiness?

SEP 9

1. How does Aristotle set up the problem of happiness? What are the key steps in the argument?

2. Critically evaluate Aristotle's view in light of criticisms developed in class.

3. What is the connection between our nature and the possibilities for happiness? Is human happiness part of a "plan" for humans?

SEP 11

1. How does Haidt contrast and evaluate the two main strategies for pursuing happiness (internal and external)?

2. What are some of the key happiness makers and unmakers in Haidt's view?

3. What does it mean to say that we have a "set point" for our happiness?

4. What is the difference between hedonic adaptation and the hedonic treadmill?

SEP 16

1. What does Schimmack conclude about: top down vs. bottom up theories of SWB, the relationship between PA and NA, and between cognitive and affective well being?

2. How do positive and negative affect appear in your experience? What relationships can you notice between them in your experience. Does this lead to any hypotheses about changing your experience (presumably to increase the ratio of PA/NA)?

3. What is a scientific theory? How does our phenomenal experience constitute evidence in relation to science?

SEP 18

1. What features and structures of the brain does Haidt highlight in this reading?

2. What should we expect or not expect from a theory of happiness or our experience of happiness given that we have brains of this sort?

SEP 23

1. Summarize major findings from Argyle on correlations between happiness and Age, Education, Social Class, Income, Marriage, Ethnicity, Employment, Leisure and Religion.

2. What generalizations, if any, stand out from these correlations and the methodological issues associated with them?

3. What methodological issues (limits) do happiness researchers face if they apply quantitative methods from the social sciences to understanding "happiness-makers" (demographic and otherwise)?