link about the portraits of strangers on the street

hi guys, here is the link about the stranger portraits that we discussed in class today. http://truthseekerdaily.com/2013/10/photographer-puts-two-strangers-together-for-intimate-photographs-and-the-results-are-surprising/

Group One Post

Happy Halloween! it was so nice to finally be sitting in a class with other people dressed up so i didn't feel so stupid. lol The beginning of our class time was allocated to exam #2 (extra credit for costumes and candy) Before we began our discussion we watched kathy's video the science of happiness which was an experiment where people wrote down information about someone who they admired who had made an impact in their life. after writing it down they were then asked to call the person and read to them what they wrote. it was an act of showing how the person that wrote the note received gratitude and that contributes to happiness. don't forget to call your loved ones on a daily basis to let them know how you feel about them. we are not guaranteed tomorrow so don't be the one wishing you had told them something after it's too late. "don't wait for the terminal diagnosis to make the call." We flipped through a slide show of photos of random acts of kindness. Today was the first day of our discussion on our new book The Happiness Myth by Jennifer Hecht. I personally am glad to get out of the buddhist stuff. i have never been so confused in all my life! The chapter we discussed was entitled "Get Happy." Dr. Oliver discusses his post from Up At Dawn with regards to the chapter and an overview of the author. since we had the exam first, we did not have a lot of time for discussion today. have a good weekend everyone!

Random acts of kindness :)

http://loveistheword.org/101-random-acts-of-kindness/

Since we were on the topic of random acts of kindness, I posted this onto my Facebook not too long ago and I will be doing them from November 1st to the end of the year. Maybe you'll be interested in joining :)

Extra credit

"If I were a Buddhist, says Flanagan, “I would be troubled by not understanding how Buddhist ethics follows from Buddhist metaphysics and epistemology." Can you clarify that relation? Why and how should an acknowledgement of the “noble truths,” no-self, emptiness, transience, etc. lead someone to be more compassionate, kind, and happy?

OR

Are “hybrid cosmopolitans” who borrow and combine metaphysical, ethical, and spiritual (etc.) insight from multiple traditions as happy as those committed to a single tradition?

(Write two paragraphs on one of the preceding, OR on the discussion question pertaining to our October discussions of your choice.)

And, Happy Halloween! Candy and costumes earn credit too.

Into the Mystic

JMH argues what four issues are the largest topics of happiness, which are at the center of her book The Happiness Myth?   Answer: drugs, money, bodies, celebration.

After finishing Owen Flanagan's The Bodhisattva's Brain, it left me with a newfound respect for Buddhism.  Although the woo or magic aspect seems somewhat overreaching, it seems harmless.  Whether from a structuralist, functionalist, or rationalist explanation, I can see the want (or need) to try and communicate the ineffable.

Further, I found the idea of atman (self) and anatman (no-self) fascinating.  What is the self, exactly?  Statements like "he's not himself today," or "I lost myself (my self?) in that song" seem to make sense.

We can always keep searching, but if the answer doesn't come after much Socratic self-examination, one can always rely on Van Morrison to take us somewhere--even if the lyrics are a bit mystifying.  Then again, maybe that's the whole idea.

We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Every bonnie boat was one
As we sailed into the mystic

Get Happy

Today we start The Happiness Myth by Jennifer Michael Hecht.

FQ: What does Hecht say are the three distinct kinds of happiness? 1. A good day. 2. Euphoria 3. A happy life P. 10.

DQ: Will comparisons of historical perspectives of happiness alter our assumptions and make happiness more available?

 This seems like a good farewell to Buddhist ideas on happiness:



 Happy Halloween!

I hope these brighten the day of anyone who chooses to view this article. It would be good if the news included more instances of human compassion and kindness, but it is what it is. These are very powerful images, but they are all very inspiring.

http://www.world-actuality.com/index.php/people/671-these-20-photos-are-going-to-make-you-cry-but-you-ll-see-why-it-s-totally-worth-it

Study Guide for Group 2

Chapter 6:
Which story/parable is meant to adjust the heart-mind, featuring the character Kisa Gotami and her journey through grief and sadness, eventually leading to new perspectives on her plight?
Answer: "The Parable of the Mustard Seed" (p. 182-3)

Chapter 5:
Which Chinese philosopher claimed that "everyone (even Hitler, we might say) will feel himself moved (emotionally and physically) to want to rescue a child falling into a well?"
Answer: Mencius (p. 152)

Another for Chapter 5:
Why did the Dalai Lama tell Flanagan in a private audience that he doesn't believe in reincarnation in the literal sense?
Answer: Flanagan believes this is because the idea is impossible to comprehend, and the details of how reincarnation could even begin to work for a being that has no-self presents serious logical problems.

Chapter 1: Who wrote The Cult of Nothingness: The Philosophers and the Buddha?
Answer: Roger-Pol Droit (p. 12-13)

Chapter 2: Who is the world's leading authority on the basic emotions (fear, anger, sadness, surprise, disgust, contempt, and happiness), as well as on the universal facial expressions that accompany them?
Answer: Paul Ekman (p. 45)

Chapter 3: Which view (in its minimalistic form) entails that every mental event has a neural correlate?
Answer: NCC or neural correlate of consciousness (p. 85)

Chapter 4: True/False, Buddhism claims that there are no persons.
Answer: False, It only denies that any person is an eternal self-same thing, or possesses an immutable, indestructible essence, which is its self (atman). (p. 98)

These are the only questions that we've posted for the book...6 of them are from me, 1 is from Samantha. Our group is slacking :(

Test Questions: Group 1

1.     What would the Buddhist argue as omitted from Aristotle's list of virtues?  Compassion and lovingkindness (p. 167) 

2.     The Dalai Lama was influenced by Karl Popper, who is most famous for his criterion of what epistemological concept?  Falsifiability (p. 62)  

3.     Who wrote The Therapy of Desire? Martha Nussbaum (p. 173)

4.     In Buddhism proper (if there is such a thing), what is the theodicy to explain evil and suffering—worldly or other-worldly cause and effect?  Karma (pp. 72-74)

5.     Egoism that takes the form of acquisitiveness of multifarious sorts is the main cause of what? 
Suffering

6.     What is the unchanging self or soul?  Atman (p. 68)

7.     According to Buddhism wisdom consists of Impermanence, dependent origination, and _____.  Anatman or no-self (p. 125)

8.     7th century version of "all in flux" had three things that were unfluxable.  What were they? God, individual souls, and the laws of nature (p. 136)

9.     Diamonds are forever. True or False, and why.
Answer- "False, Diamonds come from compressed coal. And diamonds dissolve, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Diamonds just dissolve very, very slowly." (p. 97)

10.  Original sin, Buddhist style, consists of what three poisons? 
Answer: Delusions, Greedy Desire, and Hatred. (p. 101) 

Thanks for sharing

What great songs and images and ideas were shared in HAP 101 yesterday! John Lennon, Steely Dan, Chris Arnade's disturbing photos, the 2013 World Happiness Report, a mood quiz, The Geography of Bliss, Ishmael...

And Mary Schmich, via Baz Luhrmann:

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday...

 Stretch...

And be liberal with the sunscreen.

Then, some insight from Brennan on how to take Buddhist "woo" when it comes to talk about candles and karma and rebirth and other supernatural-sounding stuff. Remember, he says, these are stories (parables, myths, koans) designed to provoke and awaken, not necessarily theories or arguments intended to persuade western philosophy-style. He also cautions not to assume, on the basis of that quote from Meaning of Life citing beer-drinking as an example of desire and attachment without satisfaction, that HH the DL does not condone our Happy Hours. 

And then, some constructive feedback from James on being careful with "addiction". I'd said I have a walking/biking addiction but merely a beer-drinking habit. Really?

Maybe. I do think a good habit can be a positive, life-giving, happy-making (psychological, physiological) addiction. I also think taking habitual personal pleasure in beer can enhance life, pleasure, satisfaction, and conviviality without sapping all will and self-control. It need not turn into William James's "so degrading a poisoning." Though it can, of course. It did for one of his siblings. 

Do take care. 
From Up@dawn

Rough draft study guide test 2/group 3

Philosophy study guide:
(Ch1)FQ: How can you achieve nirvana? 1. meditation 2. Death 3. Buddhahood p. 17

(Ch5) FQ:  What are two necessary conditions for eudaimonistic theory?
        1.  the theory describes social and wider ecological conditions necessary for individual happiness.
        2.  the theory describes how the psyche should be structured so that with the right                                             traits/dispositions/convictions an individual can flourish.               page 142            

Factual question: Why did the Dalai Lama tell Flanagan in a private audience that he doesn't believe in reincarnation in the literal sense?
Answer: Flanagan believes this is because the idea is impossible to comprehend, and the details of how reincarnation could even begin to work for a being that has no-self presents serious logical problems.

Factual Question for Group 3:
How does one go about achieving proper function as a sentient human being, as agreed upon by all Buddhist sects?
Answer: Achieving wisdom and compassion for eudaimonia; furthermore being mindful.

   (Ch6)  FQ:  What is Aristotle's Law (AL)?   Virtue is a necessary condition for happiness.  (p.170)

(Ch6)FQ: What is zeal? -Flanagan quotes Santideva (The Bodhisattva's Way of Life) (PG.165)
Answer- enthusiasm for virtue

(Ch6)FQ: according to Flanagan, what are the three necessary conditions for happiness in terms of Budddhism?
Answer: virtue, wisdom and mindfulness.

(Ch6)FQ: What's the difference between "AL" and "BL" virtues?
Answer: "AL" virtue is the normal and reliable cause of happiness through reason.
"BL" virtue is the normal and reliable cause of happiness through wisdom, meditation, and mindfulness.

FQ: Why is Buddhism sometimes said to be incoherent?
Answer: Because it gives advice on how to live a good life as a good person, while denying that there are persons.

(Ch4)Factual Question: What are the three poisons?
Answer: Delusions, Greedy Desire, and Hatred.

(Ch3) FQ: What is the Dalai Lama's definition of karma? Karma means action and refers to the intentional acts of sentient beings. p.72

FQ for Ch 2: Has the pursuit of happiness been an aim of classical Buddhism? No. While the 14th Dalai Lama says "happiness is the sole universal aim," most Buddhologists tell Flanagan it is not what the Buddha taught. p.42

Revolution in you

Questioner: If all individuals were in revolt, don't you think there would be chaos in the world?


"If you respond as a Hindu or a Buddhist, a Christian or a communist, then your response is very limited- which is no response at all. You can respond fully, adequately only if their is no fear in you, only if you don't think as a Hindu , a communist or capitalist, but as a total human being who is trying to solve this problem; and you cannot solve it unless you are in revolt against the whole thing, against the ambitious acquisitiveness on which society is based. When you yourself are not ambitious, not acquisitive, not clinging to your own security- only then can you respond to the challenge and create a new world."

-Krishnamurti 

I'm sure someone has already posted this at some point in time, but I saw it the other day, and thought of this class :)

There is a Spectre Haunting Happiness

It is Capitalism!
Wilhelm here...

I've been noticing that a lot of discussions and conclusions that we come to in class involve, a minimal lifestyle, a withdrawal from consumerist culture, separating short sighted pleasures from long standing joy, being "virtuous", a greater sense of community, and a subscription to true individual freedom (or sense of such.)

My question is do we think the constructs of our regulated capitalist economy, combined with our form of representational government, necessarily nourish happiness in concordance with some of the ideals above? Here, we're talking about the realities of the effects on individuals of the American economic, political, and social landscape, not the "America", "Capitalism", or "Democracy" that only lives in vacuums and presidential promises.

Does the American way promote a minimal lifestyle? For me seemingly not. America is about the acquisition of capital, and the subversion of class struggle through class ascendance. In example, we don't look at our lives negatively and say, why does this negativity exist, or should this sort of problem even be a phenomenon? Instead we say this problem is a problem for these kind of people, but if I can just become one of those kind of people, I'll be fine.

In example, when a break in happens within a neighborhood, the family doesn't ask, "well why did the robber rob", or, "what familial and social circumstances create these ethical decisions", no, the family asks their real estate agent can they move to a "better" neighborhood. This, of course, creates a system where the problems never go away, they are just happening to different people.

Furthermore, this class ascendance relies on the exchange of capital, and since capital, for us, is the universal means of acquiring material survival, as well as material happiness, it is to be conserved, and thus, while fiscal altruism is not dead within such a society, one can definitely not say it is "nourished", unless you consider tax cuts and other economic incentives nourishment for altruism. That still promotes the idea of exchange, rather than sacrifice, which brings us to a moral dilemma of what altruism actually is.

Do we, as Americans, separate short sighted pleasures from long standing joy? Do our systems allow for such? Well, quite simply, the marketplace existed before America was founded; however, macroconsumerism did not. Although, I am not saying that the Platonic idea of "American value" necessarily translates into a sacrifice of long term happiness against short term pleasure. Instead, I am putting forth the notion that the political, social, philosophical and technological historical circumstances in which America was founded led to a sort of macroconsumerism which favors fleeting pleasure.

Virtuous? It's hard for me to synthesize an argument here, as virtue is seemingly subjective. It'd take a class discussion to truly understand virtue in the ideological sense, American virtue in a vacuum, American virtue in reality, and then compare it to some other cultures ideas of virtue. A project for another day!

A greater sense of community and connection? America is a world of individuals, right? America abolished the family for the "nuclear" family, a smaller, compact unit perfect for statistics which they use to propagate consumerist culture. America turns the university experience, a melding of cultures and philosophies, into a job track, a glorified pool of tech schools. America encourages party polarization. America has parties in the first place. Individualism, polarization, and competing minority interests pervade every inch our society.

True individual freedom? Do you feel free? Can you do what you want without consequence? No? Where are the consequences coming from? That place that they are coming from, do you feel like you have a say in that place in which you could express yourself directly, for a specific issue, and make a change? How about even be heard?

Should be self evident.

Virtue and Happiness - Group 1

What would the Buddhist argue as omitted from Aristotle's list of virtues?  Compassion and lovingkindness. 

The 2013 World Happiness Report was published on Monday and Denmark, once again, took the top spot, with Norway and Sweden in 2nd and 3rd respectively.  The US ranked 17th trailing Mexico at 16th with Canada coming in 6th. 

The question being: would you move to Northern Europe where healthcare is a civil right, gender equality is prioritized, biking is encouraged, and there's a national sense of civic responsibility, but it's freezing-ass cold most of the time?  Some days I feel like I'd rather suffer and die where the sun is shining and the weather is warm.  Tough one.

The link to the report is above; here's the link to a Huffington Post article. 

Blast from the Past

I started my morning out by jamming to this one hit wonder and I wanted to pass it on to you all. If you haven't heard this song, it is quite inspirational.

Virtue and Happiness--Group 3

     We started Tuesday's discussion with a suggestion from Thoreau to "simplify, simplify, simplify."  Then on to the focus of Chapter 5, morality and its connection to happiness. Questions about morality are fundamental to philosophy.  We discussed "what is moral." and "why be moral." There was mention of the Bodhisattva's commitment to free all sentient beings, and Plato's enlightened philosopher's return to the cave to free those left behind. The final thought was to educate but not impose enlightenment.

     Chapter 6 is titled Virtue and Happiness.  Flanagan compares the ethics of Aristotle with those of Buddhism.  He also looks at the importance of virtue relative to happiness.

     FQ:  What is Aristotle's Law (AL)?   Virtue is a necessary condition for happiness.  (p.170)

     And just for fun :

Factual Question for Group 3:

How does one go about achieving proper function as a sentient human being, as agreed upon by all Buddhist sects?

Answer: Achieving wisdom and compassion for eudaimonia; furthermore being mindful.

Discussion Question:

Why do you think people go back into the cave of darkness Plato describes, given that he offers a few answers to this question?

Buddhist candles

Is there a non-literal understanding of reincarnation that can be naturalized? Do our successors "partake in our former consciousness" in a non-metaphysically spooky way? Does the "row of candles" analogy make sense?

Just some of my (too) many questions, prompted by Flanagan's ch.5. He says the Dalai Lama does not himself take reincarnation literally, but he does go on quite a lot, in Meaning of Life (2000) about cycles of death and rebirth. 

Selling all my gear, quit my job.

And I finally understand Marxism.

These are happy days folks.

Eudaimonia/Group 3

Thursday's discussion considered the ideas of persons...eternal persons...selves...souls.  It is the Buddhist idea that constant unsatisfied craving causes suffering.  The alleviation of suffering is a way to happiness.  Meditative practice (compassion and lovingkindness) can help with this.  And a  life of service contributes to the happiness of a eudaimon/Buddha. But ultimately every superscript needs to find his/her own path to eudaimonia.

 Chapter 5 FQ:  What are two necessary conditions for eudaimonistic theory?
        1.  the theory describes social and wider ecological conditions necessary for individual happiness.
        2.  the theory describes how the psyche should be structured so that with the right                                             traits/dispositions/convictions an individual can flourish.               page 142            

Here's Flanagan discussing eudaimonia, though this lecture is pre-BB.

Karma's a Beach - Group 1

Question: In Buddhism proper (if there is such a thing), what is the theodicy to explain evil and suffering?  Karma

Sometimes karma is a beach, or a blue sky, or just catching up with an old friend.  I have no problem with the "reap what you sow" type karma, the existential cause-and-effect type of karma, but the supernatural aspect of good v. evil loses me at the first step into that metaphysical abyss. 

As a naturalist, I try to view classic thinkers or religious texts with a rationalist lens first, just to get a sense of the big question they are trying to answer.  It doesn't make sense to assume the author knew more than the available science of the day.  Although there were some good guesses and predictions about the natural world by ancient philosophers and theologians, most theologians thought the world was flat and weren't sure where the sun went at night.  I make myself to start there.  It's all too easy to start down a path of a phenomenological or symbolic theory and read something into a text that simply isn't there.  The next thing you know you have a list of people who deserve eternal damnation and suffering.

I think it's best to start with the fewest assumptions.  Maybe, sometimes, no answer is the best answer.

It makes for a nice day at the beach when you don't have to keep looking over you shoulder. 

I found an audio version of  Carl Sagan's "Demon Haunted World" on YouTube.

Heraclitean selves

How a nonperson without a self lives a good human life, how a nonperson with no self lives morally and meaningfully and achieves enlightenment or awakening, is deliciously puzzling.

Or perhaps annoying. Or both.

Same goes for Owen Flanagan's elaborate convention of superscripting. I find it mostly helpful and clarifying.

Eudaimonia/Aristotle = an active life of reason and virtue (courage, justice, temperance, wisdom, generosity, wit, friendliness, truthfulness, philanthropy, honor).

Eudaimonia/Buddha = a stable sense of serenity and contentment... enlightenment... knowledge of impermanence... interconnectedness... emptiness... anatman [transience, "no self"]...

But we are "Heraclitean selves" stepping ever into a river whose waters are in constant motion and (thus) ever different. "Both you and the river will have changed," moment to moment. "Does this mean there is no river and no you? Of course not." That's helpfully demystifying.

"Buddhism does not deny that there are persons/Buddha who live lives. It denies that a person-- any person-- is an eternal self-same thing, or possesses an immutable, indestructible essence, which is its self (atman)." This too shall pass...

(Continues at Up@dawn...)
==
I enjoyed your reports! All who participated, as mutually attested by your signatures, receive full participation credit for the midterm group report. Well done!

Now, we need to decide if we want to continue the smaller discussion format on Thursdays. We'll discuss that briefly and then VOTE on it.

In any event, do continue to distribute "positions" within your group: some of you concentrate your posts (questions, comments, links) on the first third of each day's assigned reading, others on the middle and final thirds.  Indicate that on the scorecard as 1/3, 2/3, & 3/3.

Exam #2 is on Halloween. Each group should appoint a Study Guide FQ gatherer. We'll need FQs from all the Flanagan chapters including 1-4.

If you missed our classmate John Holloway's generous invitation:

I broadcast Flourish Radio to 94.9 FM in the Hudson Valley on Sunday's from 5-6 CST and Mondays from 1-3 CST. I bring this up as I had a fellow Philoshap classmate on the show with me Monday where we discussed a myriad of topics. Consider this an invitation to my house on the aforementioned dates/times to join me in discussion on whatever topics related to human flourishing, spirituality, happiness, etc. Check out the broadcast from my archives at: http://party934.com/Flourish/

And note, the Tennessee Philosophical Association's annual meeting is FRI-SAT Oct 25-26, at Vanderbilt. Details at tpaweb.org, here.

group one post for thursday 10/10

today's class consisted of group three's TED talk presentation. Our group is going to discuss three TED talks relating to happiness. We have divided our group into three mini-groups. Less Stuff, More Happiness: Suggested reading: Happiness: lessons from a new science: Richard Layard Megan Brennan Josh Ashley Flow: Suggested reading: Flow, The Psychology of Optimal Experience: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Rebecca (Research) Parker (Speaker) Greg (Outline/Summary) Cameron (Power Point) Chloe (Research) Habits of Happiness: Suggested reading: Happiness, A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill: Matthieu Ricard Kathy Solara Will Katy i really enjoyed less stuff, more happiness and have started to clear out my house of things that i don't need, clothes that i don't wear, books that i don't need, etc. it feels good to get rid of a lot of excess clutter!

Another Long Video for the break!

Here's a video from Jana Mohr Lone, Director of the Philosophy for Children Center at the University of Washington and author of The Philosophical Child (among many other awesome credentials). This talk, as well as the Center aforementioned, precisely embodies the importance and avenues for an introduction to Philosophy for children. It's another long one, but definitely worth a watch, especially if you have children of your own or are interested in sharing the wonders of Philosophy with them.

Enjoy Fall break everyone!

Afterwards...

After our (group 2's) presentation, I'm really looking forward to the TED talks class tomorrow...and Fall break.

Kathy linked us to an article about a Jennifer Aniston neuron in her comment on group one's post below, and I found the subsequent debate on Youtube. I figured I would share it with everyone because, though well over a year old, this avenue of neuroscience is deeply intriguing and paramount to our understanding. This specific debate involves some of the most divergent and current views on the subject. While a lot of the jargon may scoot above my head, it's this type of scientific pursuit that captivates me and reminds me that there are still so many mysteries out there and in here (noggin tapping for emphasis).

Also, if group two wants to discuss our presentation (for some egotistical reason :P), the text, or anything looking towards tomorrow's presentation, here's a post to comment on.

group one post

since there are not posts for today i will author for group one. we started our class inside with a brief discussion on whether to have class outside or not. after filling out our new "score sheets" we moved out on the lawn for group 2's presentation i am cutting and pasting their outline here for clarity purposes Methods and Happiness: Intro (James): There are too many divergent ways to pursue and evaluate happiness. We've each picked something relevant. Ken: Bars on Happiness Materials: The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman Supplemented: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn & Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach William: Materialism Materials: the Gearsluts forum (based on two threads: the "Video Game Curse" thread http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/865756-september-2013-new-gear-thread.html & the latest "of the month" thread http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/865756-september-2013-new-gear-thread.html alongside a running tradition in the field) Alexander: Pick Up Artistry Materials: Websites dealing with the topic: http://www.rooshv.com/18-reasons-why-you-dont-get-laid http://www.pick-up-artist-forum.com/ http://manboobz.com/category/pua/ http://www.pualingo.com/pua-terminology-list/http://www.pualingo.com/pua-definitions/kino-escalation/ Jackie: Habits Materials: Articles on the topic: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/happiness-habits-of-exuberant-human-beings_n_3909772.html http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/happycircle-ggsc.pdf Otto: Superstitions Materials: Bok's chapter on Illusion and three articles: http://www.livescience.com/8392-superstitions-bring-real-luck-study-reveals.htmlhttp://www.healthguidance.org/entry/15659/1/How-to-Stop-Being-Superstitious.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181957/ Samantha: Astrology Materials: Beginners handbook on the topic to be presented in class Tony: Aboriginal Tribes in Africa Materials: To be presented in class Kat: Handling Panic Attacks/Anxiety Materials: The Panic Attack Recovery Book by Shirley Swede & Seymour Sheppard Jaffe, M.D. James: Logotherapy Materials: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Conclusion (James): Are there any over-arching themes here? i was unprepared to author so forgive my lack of expanding on the talk. great job group 2

Group 2 Project Outline

Excuse the lateness of this post--I've been battling an obnoxious head cold, and I wouldn't come in today if it wasn't for the presentation.

Methods and Happiness:
Intro (James): There are too many divergent ways to pursue and evaluate happiness. We've each picked something relevant.

Ken: Bars on Happiness
Materials: The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman
Supplemented: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn & Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

William: Materialism
Materials: the Gearsluts forum (based on two threads:
the "Video Game Curse" thread
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/865756-september-2013-new-gear-thread.html
& the latest "of the month" thread
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electronic-music-instruments-electronic-music-production/865756-september-2013-new-gear-thread.html
alongside a running tradition in the field)

Alexander: Pick Up Artistry
Materials: Websites dealing with the topic:
http://www.rooshv.com/18-reasons-why-you-dont-get-laid
http://www.pick-up-artist-forum.com/
http://manboobz.com/category/pua/
http://www.pualingo.com/pua-terminology-list/http://www.pualingo.com/pua-definitions/kino-escalation/

Jackie: Habits
Materials: Articles on the topic:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/happiness-habits-of-exuberant-human-beings_n_3909772.html
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/happycircle-ggsc.pdf

Otto: Superstitions
Materials: Bok's chapter on Illusion and three articles:
http://www.livescience.com/8392-superstitions-bring-real-luck-study-reveals.htmlhttp://www.healthguidance.org/entry/15659/1/How-to-Stop-Being-Superstitious.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181957/

Samantha: Astrology
Materials: Beginners handbook on the topic to be presented in class

Tony: Aboriginal Tribes in Africa
Materials: To be presented in class

Kat: Handling Panic Attacks/Anxiety
Materials: The Panic Attack Recovery Book by Shirley Swede & Seymour Sheppard Jaffe, M.D.

James: Logotherapy
Materials: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Conclusion (James): Are there any over-arching themes here?

We can decide on a different order for presentation before we begin today. If there are no issues, however, the order I've posted seems good enough to me :)
See you all this afternoon!

Help yourself?

But 

what about happiness self-help, specifically? Can you read a book and make yourself happy, in precisely that order and by that agency? Yes, I'm sure of it. I don't think I've found any of my Happy books in that section of the bookstore, though. There's plenty of philosophy, history, speculative and literary fiction on my list, including (paradoxically) the existential/apocalyptic novels of the late southern Roman Catholic apologist Walker Percy. His Moviegoer, Last Gentleman, Love in the Ruins, Lancelot, and Second Coming provided amusement and a needed purchase on the mind of a slice of my mysteriously opaque adopted region. 

Percy also wrote Lost in the Cosmos: the Last Self-Help Book You'll Ever Need. The latest edition, I notice, has lopped off the last three words... so I can say without circumspection or self-reflection that the amended title is flat-out false. There must have been about ten thousand or so s-h efforts in the intervening years since Percy published his somewhat smart-ass paroday of Carl Sagan's Cosmos back in the early '80s. 

It caused me some consternation, then, for I considered myself a big fan of them both. I wasn't at all sympathetic with Percy's religion, but I thought his critique of Know Nothing Republicans, Hollywood hipsters, and consumerist America in general was hilarious and mostly on target...

Continues at  Up@dawn...

NEXT. Check out the new improvised "Sticky" in the upper right, under the JUB. Formatting's minimal but it's got the info you need.

group one post for thursday 10/3/13

Since there have been no posts for last week i will author for the day. Class began with general announcements and the passing back of our exams. Exams were graded and passed back in and we added up our points for our score sheets. After the class settled down, group one delivered our project about balance = happiness. We passed out candy afterward while we took questions from the class. Next week groups two and three will present their projects on tuesday and thursday respectively.

Balancing act

     NEXT. For some reason my digital sticky notes in the upper right margin are frozen, so here's the latest:

Tue Oct 8 Group #2 report. Read "The Color of Happiness" (BB) T 8 Group #2 midterm report presentation; Color of Happiness (BB)

Thur Oct 10 Group #3 midterm report. Read "Buddhist Epistemology" (BB)

Fall Break

Th 17 "Selfless Persons" (BB)
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PHILOSOPHY CLUB/HAPPY HOUR meets regularly right after class, at Boulevard B&G.

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS below.
==

Oct.3-
Group #1 will make their case for "Balance" as the meaning of happiness today in HAP 101, with respect to cycles of change, eastern and western approaches, brain science, coexistence, slavery, human and civil rights. 

Not sure if this is anything like what they have in mind, but what seems most unbalanced in many of our lives is time.

1   ==

Today we'll grade Tuesday's exam in class before Group #1's  "balance" report. I'll bring a stapler.

Group reports continue thru next week. Groups, please print your summaries & turn them in, signed, when you begin your presentation. 

The other thing everybody needs to do today, since we're finishing our first scorecard: tally your TOTAL BASES since the 5th inning, and write that number in the appropriate right-hand column (which I'll point out).

We begin a new scorecard next week. If anyone want to try a new group, join it then. (Obligations to your old group still apply, of course.)

If you still can't find your way to 1st base please speak up now. I won't judge you. (It's not your fault if  you were raised by footballers and deprived of your "national pastime" heritage.)

While we're doing group reports we all need to continue posting questions, comments, and links pertaining to the report topics and to Flanagan (Bod.'s Brain). Reply to your group's posted summary, or wherever.

And one more little thing: if anybody wants coffee or tea, from now on, please send an emissary/barista to my office upstairs (307B) a few minutes before class to help me schlep it down. I'll need help getting it back upstairs after class, too. Any time you do that, consider it a "comment" and score it accordingly.

Group 3 Summary/Outline

Disclaimer: This is still under construction, but here's what we've got going so far!

Our group is going to discuss three TED talks relating to happiness. We have divided our group into three mini-groups. 

Less Stuff, More Happiness:

Suggested reading: Happiness: lessons from a new science: Richard Layard
Megan
Brennan
Josh
Ashley

Flow:

Suggested reading: Flow, The Psychology of Optimal Experience: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Rebecca (Research)
Parker (Speaker)
Greg (Outline/Summary)
Cameron (Power Point)
Chloe (Research)


Habits of Happiness:

Suggested reading: Happiness, A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill: Matthieu Ricard
Kathy
Solara
Will
Katy

Feel free to fill in the blanks here with whatever is missing! :)

Group 1 Project Responsibilities List

Topic: Balance=Happiness
Intro-> Brenna
1. Change and Cycles-> Brenna & John Holloway
     -Change and cycles are necessary
     -Change provides balance
     -Eastern/Western Philosophical interaction
     -The science of the brain and what it needs to be balanced.
2. Co-existance-> David & Mia
      -Religions
      - Salad vs. Melting Pot
3. Equality-> Dean, Leigh, & Jon Gill
     - Slavery
     - Women's rights
     -Gay Rights
Conclusion-> Dean


Everyone Should have received an email with a link to our google document. You should be able to link to it and edit the power point as needed. Please get your slides edited BEFORE our meeting on Wednesday, which will be at 6 pm in Starbucks.
Please post any question you may have at this point. Especially is you were not able to make it to the meeting on Monday.

In Light of Test Day

Good morning! Buddhism is looming on the horizon, and I can begin by saying that I am extremely stoked for this next book. I haven't had the chance of opening BB yet, but I plan to read a good chunk of it before presentations begin or after I continue to study today if there's time left over. I imagine that a few members of my group are in a similar boat. If you have read, here's a place to post your comments/questions about the material. If you haven't, I hope you have a wonderful day regardless and wish you all the best of luck on our first exam!

Group 2 still hasn't fully developed their reading/materials list for the project (or we have, but I haven't received the emails denoting what those are yet). I'll be posting the summary as soon as I get the information :) We do, however, each have a topic that we're working on, and I do have access to that information already--just filling in the gaps at this point.

alan watts by south park link again

here is the link to cut and past. the link button is not working for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YgEhvZDZVg

alan watts by south park - hope this works!

Score sheet requirement

Factual question: what are the three philosophical styles? comparative, fusion, and cosmopolitan Discussion question: In the beginning of page three the author says to image Buddhism without a long list of things. If you take out those characteristics of the faith don't you just get atheism? discuss It seems that there are no group postings from last thursday for me to comment on so i will comment on some other posts. I was unfortunately didn't make it to class last Thursday due to making preparations for my student show (Thanks Williem and Dr. Oliver for coming!) so I can not comment on the class either.

David Hume, our hero

So says Owen Flanagan in Bodhisattva's Brain.

Naturalism comes in many varieties, but the entry-level union card—David Hume is our hero—expresses solidarity with this motto: “Just say no to the supernatural."

Buddhism naturalized, if there is or can be such a thing, delivers what Buddhism possibly uniquely among the world's live spiritual traditions, promises to offer: no false promises, no positive illusions, no delusions. 

(Continues at Up@dawn)

NOTE: My digital sticky note on our site is stuck or something, so a reminder: post those report summaries & reading lists.

And, if you're stumped for an extra credit discussion question today here are some options:

EXTRA CREDIT. Write a paragraph or two on one of the following...

• Which do you prefer, Russell’s “zest” and “conquest,” or Freud’s “discontent” and pessimism? Or neither? Do you prefer another historical philosopher of happiness? Who? Why?

• A recent review tried to explain the popularity of “Breaking Bad” as a reflection of the unhappiness that results from the American “pursuit of happine$$.” Agree or disagree?

OR supply and respond to your own discussion question.
==
"NEXT" still stuck...

Thur 3 Group #1 midterm report. Read "Bodhisattva's Brain"

Tue 8 Group #2... Thur 10 Group #3... FALL BREAK 

Thur 17 Bod's Brain...