Happiness Fall 2015 Study Questions

Return to Happiness

SEP 3

1. What is philosophically and practically significant about the rise of Greek philosophy for the study of happiness?

2. Describe Plato's model for happiness. What would his basic argument about the nature of happiness be?

3. Describe Aristotle's model for happiness. What would his basic argument about the nature of happiness be?

3. What would we have to know to settle the question about Pat and Lee raised by Cahn and Vitrano?

SEP 8

1. How do you distinguish objectivist and subjectivist positions? Why is the distinction complicated?

2. What is Aristotle's core argument for his view of Happiness? What is Happiness for Aristotle?

3. What are some strengths and weaknesses of Aristotle's view?

SEP 10

1. In light of Haidt's discussion, how might you explain the phrase, "Happiness is in the journey"?

2. How can we account for the similar outcomes of lottery winners and paraplegics?

3. According to Haidt, what are some of the factors in your life that might increase your happiness in an enduring way?

SEP 15

1. Using Schimmack as an example, how do researchers build scientific models or constructs of happiness?

2. What do we know about top down vs. bottom up constructs of happiness? How might this knowledge affect internal vs. external strategies?

3. What do we know about the relationship between positive and negative affect?

SEP 17

1. What are some of the major structural and historic features of the human brain?

2. How do tensions between automatic and controlled processes relate to the problem of happiness?

3. What does a broadly evolutionary (biological) approach to consciousness suggest about the possibilities for improving happiness?

SEP 22

1. Which of the main researched factors in Argyle seem to provide the most credible evidence for various aspects of a Happiness construct?

2. What are some of the methodological difficulties in looking at correlational data on Happiness? How do you address some of those difficulties?

SEP 24

1. What are some of the main difficulties in measuring levels of SWB across nations, according to Diener and Suh?

2. What are some of the principle results and explanatory theories for national differences in SWB, according to Diener and Suh?

3. What considerations might enter into advising a national government to adopt more individualistic strategies for raising national SWB?

SEP 29

| Some Dates

"The Stoic Worldview"

Theology & Ontology -

• pantheism -- theos - (pneuma) - matter.
• ontology - All is corporeal, yet pneuma distinguishes life and force from dead matter.

Determinism and Freedom - Ench #1

Pneuma, Psyche, and Hegimonikon: Importance of Hegemonikon

Model of Growth and Development toward Sagehood & Wisdom - Soul-training

Late Stoicism: Epictetus

Key Idea: To realize our rational nature (and the freedom, joy and, really, connection to the divine, that only rational being can know), we need to adjust our thinking about our lives to what we know about reality.

Some passages that define the practical philosophy which follows from the metaphysics and this principle:

• Notice the "re-orientation" which is recommended in #1 and #2. "confine your aversions"
• "Some things are in our control and others are not."
• "Confine your aversion" and understand the limits of things. (Sounds like an “aversion” retraining program based on knowledge claims.)
• Infamous #3. Read with #7, #8, and #14, in case we’re being too subtle. "confine your attractions"
• Something like mindfulness, #4
• Limits of pride. Catching the mind exaggerating.
• Desire: #15,
• Comportment and advice in later points of the enchiridion.

• alignment: 8
• awareness of change: 11
• observing asymmetries: 26
• importance of commitment
• note specific advice in 33, 34, 35. "measure" in 39, read 41. 43

Small Group Prompt

1. Revisit the most difficult parts of stoic moral psychology: #3. Attachment.

2. What does the stoic have to tell us about happiness? (Look at hypostheses.)

3. +/- from the Enchiridion

Hypotheses on Stoic Happiness

1. A Happiness you deserve ---

2. Happiness is a further goal from virtue.

3. Virtue is a means to happiness. (in common with Epicurus) (#12 and #13 - If you want to improve...)

4. Stoic joy is real happiness.

5. Stoicism is a council of wisdom, not happiness.