Fall 2013 Happiness Grade norming exercise

Return to Happiness

Class,

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Try to answer the question in about 7-8 minutes. The recommended due date is Wednesday at 5pm.

Alfino

Epicureans are often regarded as indulgers who focus on the senses and satisfying them as a means to happiness. Though partially correct, this is often the interpretation of those who use the term pleasure in a modern context. The key idea of Epicureanism of pursuing pleasure is based on the ancient world’s understanding of pleasure rather than that of today (and noting the difference is central to understanding the philosophy). In order to achieve pleasure, one must also re-orient one’s notion of what pleasure is to find the more basic things satisfying. A key criticism of this idea is that in re-orienting our notion of pleasure we are really just settling for something less than we are capable of experiencing. An insight, however, is that we can truly be happy with the more basic things, and thus find happiness more readily (i.e. when we are extremely thirsty and plain water is the best thirst-quencher).

Robert Paulsen

The basis of the Epicurean view is that pleasure is the key to happiness. Unfortunately for Epicurus, perhaps, picturing the practice of this philosophy can make us think of such adjectives as selfish, lazy, and immature. As Epicurean philosophy progresses, however, we can see that this picture of how to unlock happiness is not as superfluous as it seems at first glance. The pursuit of pleasure, Epicurus elaborates, is simply an attempt to fulfill one's desires--just as we all do every day, working towards some future goal or desire. In order to get more happiness, then, we must either fulfill more desires (difficult) or take the easier road proposed: desire less and simpler things. According to an Epicurist, the latter path makes us happier because simpler desires are easier to fill, thus we will have more pleasure and more happiness. A criticism of this solution is that simplifying our desires takes away the element of reaching and risk-taking inherent in progress and invention, perhaps making us happier in a simple little way but preventing us from reaching our full potential and greater joy at higher achievement. Epicureanism does however shed light on the fact that much of our unhappiness comes from yearning for things we do not yet have and the anxiety that we may never have them, and that desiring things that come easier dispels much of that anxiety allowing us greater satisfaction.

Regina Phalange

Epicurean’s thought that the things that are good in the world are easy to get. Know what we desire, what we really want, is where it gets complicated. Epicurean belief requires us to re-evaluate what we truly want through reflection and contemplation. In the end, they believe that the basic pleasures (company of others, food, sex, etc.) are the ones that will give us the greatest happiness. They do not believe that desire is a bad thing like many other philosophies do. Epicureans also diminish the value of worrying because what we worry about is not in our control and we won’t really experience it. For example, they instruct us to not worry about death because death is not here now and when it is, we really don’t experience it because when we die we are gone and that is it. This perspective relieves a lot of anxiety about the unknown because it recognizes the fact that we do not know what will happen and that acceptance relieves the anxiety. A criticism of this philosophy is that it is too simple – that the things that are really desirable require work and focus to achieve. An insight of this philosophy is that the good in the world is truly basic and if we alter our perspective, happiness is much easier to achieve than previously thought.

Mickey Mouse The Epicurean view of pleasure begins in an understanding that pleasure is necessary and good. This view however, does not promote the pursuit of pleasure through extremes. Instead, it believes our necessary desires can be fulfilled with the simplest of life’s pleasures. In seeking and expecting less, Epicurean thought says our desires can be maximized. The Epicurean practice also calls one to focus his or her desires on those that are absolutely necessary—which are often the most simple. One potential criticism of this philosophy is that it may discourage ambition and drive to reach potential desires if they are not “necessary” or entirely plausible desires. One potential insight of this philosophy is that it may allow people to find pleasure, happiness, and fulfillment of desires in the simplest events of life—such as eating a good meal, enjoying the sunshine, or playing a card game.