Spring 2011 Happiness Class Class Notes 1

Return to Happiness

1/11/2011

This was our introductory class, so most of the time was spent on course mechanics.

We did discuss a few points about philosophical method and we looked at the distinction between State Happiness and Life Happiness, which we'll see again in the happiness research as the difference between Affect and Life Satisfaction.

1/18/2011

Classical Models

Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, Book 1

• hierarchy of arts, chief good chosen for its own sake, politics the master art.

• the lives of pleasure, honor (political), and contemplative compared.

• note implicit criteria for happiness: p. 3 good not easily taken from us.

• mere possession of virture not enough for happiness? why?

• Section 6 has a digression on Plato's theory of forms -- wants to argue against "form of the good" - note consequence for happiness.

• Section 7: argument turns toward the connection of the good with "ends" (telos) and final ends, that for which all else is done.

• Search for telos of man. Working from our "rational psychology" (bot of p. 6). "human good turns out to be activity of soul in accordance with virtue.

• Aristotle's list: (in addition to fulfilling your function, happiness includes:) friends, power, good birth, good children, beauty, prosperity, fortune. Note: what problem does this list solve in A's theory?

• Note how A thinks of true happiness as a "state change" (p. 9, bot) and as divine (p. 11). relates to topic in McMahon p. 49 -- ultimately the contemplative life is most blessed and happiest.

McMahon, Classical Models, ch.1

• major historical theme in Greek thought: movement from recognition of happiness (and celebration of it) as a condition, to consideration of our power to realize it through careful thought and discipline.

• note in the discussion of Dionysian ritual and Symposium

• presence of "robust hedonism" in culture of happiness.
• fundamental opposition of Platonic thought to pleasures of the body as a sig. component of happiness.

• Surgery for the Soul -- transition to Hellenistic schools (post-Socratic)

• Zeno for Stoicism
• Epicurus for Epicureanism
• Key points: Concept of philosophy as therapeutic and engaging emotions and cognition; working out of problem of "sufficiency of virtue" and "theory of pleasure."

Small Group Work

Develop conjectures, arguments, and lines of reasoning for the following Aristotelian (and broadly classical) idea:

If happiness is real, then its possession by an individual involves a relatively permanent change such that it is not easily lost.

Evaluate this Aristotelian idea:

Your nature (your function) will guide you toward happiness.

Contemporary Research

Haidt, Happiness Hypothesis, ch. 5

• Major theme -- happiness as internal or external pursuit.

• Buddha and Epictetus take a relatively "internal" path. Haidt suggests research shows this to be somewhat extreme -- there are things to strive for outside of yourself, happiness in the journey ("progress principle") "Things won are done; joy's soul lies in the doing."

• Haidt's list of happiness makers and unmakers(correlates and major causes)

• Adaptation, hedonic treadmill, set point theory, Bob and Mary comparison: relationship, meaningfulness. Bob's list more susceptible to adaptation. understanding lack of adaptation for cosmetic surgery. what's shallow vs. what matters.
• from 92f: Noise, Commuting, Shame, conflict,

• Happiness Formula

• H = Set point + Conditions + Voluntary action
• "It is vain to say that human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it." (Charlotte Bronte, 1847)

• Complicating factors

• Flow and Seligman's strengths test www.authentichappiness.org
• Comparisons and biases.
• Schwartz maximizers and satisficers.

Schimmack, "The Structure of SWB"

• Review basic diagram on p. 98.

• bottom up vs. top down --
• problems of measurement -- "shared method variance"
• more sophisticated model -- domain importance

• What could explain variance in LS besides DS?

• Positive illusions
• Money
• "direct evidence" of bottom up theory -- 106

• PA and NA

• structural, causal, and momentary

Small Group Work

If Haidt and Schimmack are roughly right in their accounts of happiness and the structure of subjective well-being, then what sorts of activities and choices start to look more or less important in the pursuit of happiness?

1/25/2011

The Shape of Happiness

This week we'll use our additional reading on major causes and correlates of happiness (don't forget Haidt) to infer and speculate about the general "shape" of happiness. Another way to get at this is to ask, "What "must" human happiness be like given some of the patterns of its occurence?" We'll try to move from the theorizing of the psychometricians about the measurement validity and causation, to larger structures about which we'll develop more knowledge and reflection in the coming weeks.

Argyle, Causes and Correlates of Happiness

• Age
• Education
• Social Status
• Income
• Marriage
• Ethnicity
• Employment
• Leisure
• Religion
• Life Events

Diener and Suh, National Differences in SWB

With this article, income is once again highlighted as a factor, but now in the context of cross nation comparisons. The major "shape" issue here is, "How does culture and national grouping interact with perceptions and judgements of happiness?

--from Layard, Happiness