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?

SEP 8

1. Why is "nexting" important for the problem of happiness?

2. What do we learn from Phinneas Gage and brain science (in Gilbert Ch. 1) about the location of this capacity to imagine the future? Can you draw any conclusions or make any hypotheses from this knowledge?

3. How has the nature of happiness changed as a cultural ideal through the centuries marking the Roman Republic and Christian era up to Aquinas? What is the best way to describe these changes?

SEP 13

1. What are some of the key claims about pleasure and the causes of happiness in Haidt?

2. How can we raise questions about and develop the happiness formula in Haidt?

NOV 22

• Thanksgiving Week: Optional Meeting Time