Happiness Fall 2016 Study Questions

SEP 1

1. How does McMahon account for the emergence of the topic of well-being in Greek philosophy in relation to Greek culture?

2. How does the Symposium provide a model for Socrates or Plato's view of happiness?

3. How does Aristotle's analysis differ from Plato?

4. To what extent do our judgments about "real" or "superior" happiness (Pat vs. Lee) track Plato and Aristotle's emphasis on the contemplative life?

SEP 6

1. How do subjectivist and objectivist intuitions in theorizing about happiness vary?

2. How does the case of Jane, discussed by Vitrano, suggest a weakness of objectivism?

3. Under what circumstances would you "discount" the report of a friend, that he or she was happy?

4. What main theoretical possibilities follow from the variation in happiness that Haybron acknowledges?

5. Is happiness best thought of as a psychological state? Does that make Haybron a subjectivist?

NOV 22

• Thanksgiving Week: Optional Meeting Time