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Let's introduce ourselves, Fall 2015 Happiness collaborators!
I invite you all to hit "comment" and reply with your own introductions, and (bearing in mind that this is an open site) your answers to two basic questions: Who are you? Why are you here? (in this course, on this campus, in this state, on this planet...)
Our first class meeting will consist mainly of introductions and a heads-up that this is an unconventional course in ways I hope you'll find delightful, instructive, and rewarding. If you don't like to move, breathe, and converse in the open air, this may not be the course for you. But if you don't especially like the conventional lecture-style academic model in which I talk and you scribble silently in your seats, it may be just what you're looking for.
We'll not go over the syllabus or get bogged down in the nuts and bolts of course mechanics on Day #1, there's plenty of time for those details later. But do peruse the blogsite and syllabus (linked in the right margin) before next class and let me know what's unclear. Meanwhile, read your classmates' intros and post your own.
I'm Dr. Oliver, aka (despite my best efforts to discourage it) "Dr. Phil." I live in Nashville with my wife, Younger Daughter, a dog (Angel) and a cat (Zeus). Older Daughter is a film student in another state.
My office is in James Union Building 300. Office hours are Mondays thru Thursdays from 1 to 2 pm, & by appointment. On nice days office hours will probably be outside. I answer emails during office hours, but not on weekends. Surest way to get a quick response: come in or call during office hours.
I've been at MTSU for over a decade, teaching philosophy courses on diverse subjects including atheism, childhood, happiness, the environment, the future, and bioethics.
My Ph.D. is from Vanderbilt. I'm originally from Missouri, near St. Louis. I was indoctrinated as a Cardinals fan in early childhood, so I understand something about religious zeal. My undergrad degree is from Mizzou, in Columbia MO. (I wish my schools weren't in the SEC-I don't approve of major collegiate sports culture or football brain injuries, as I'm sure to tell you again.)
My Ph.D. is from Vanderbilt. I'm originally from Missouri, near St. Louis. I was indoctrinated as a Cardinals fan in early childhood, so I understand something about religious zeal. My undergrad degree is from Mizzou, in Columbia MO. (I wish my schools weren't in the SEC-I don't approve of major collegiate sports culture or football brain injuries, as I'm sure to tell you again.)
My philosophical expertise, such as it is, centers on the American philosophical tradition of William James and John Dewey. A former student once asked me to respond to a questionnaire, if you're curious you can learn more about me there.
What you most need to know about me, though, is that I'm a peripatetic and will encourage you all to join me in that philosophical lifestyle as often as possible during discussion time. (If you're not sure what "peripatetic" means, read the syllabus or ask me. Or look it up.)
I post my thoughts regularly to my blogs Up@dawn and Delight Springs, among others, and to Twitter (@osopher), and am planning to experiment with podcasting as a classroom tool this semester. Follow me if you want to.
But of course, as Brian Cohen said, you don't have to follow anyone. (Extra credit if you get that reference... and real extra credit if you realize that my "extra credit" is usually rhetorical.) However, if a blog or podcast link turns up with the daily quiz (which will always be posted on this site no later than the night before class), you might find it helpful to read or listen.
Enough about me. Who are you? (Where are you from, where have you been, what do you like, who do you want to become,...?) Why are you here? (On Earth, in Tennessee, at MTSU, in philosophy class)? Hit "comments" below and post your introduction, then read your classmates'... and bear in mind that this is an open site. The world can read it. (The world's probably busy with other stuff, of course - Kardashians and cooking shows and other examples of what passes for "reality" these days.)
Hi everyone, my name is Lance Egly, and if we are being completely honest, I have no idea who I am. In fact isn't 'who I am' relative to each person's perspective of how I live? And as for why I am here, I'm still trying to figure that out for myself.
ReplyDeleteHello all! I am, according to MTSU, Gabrielle Pinkleton, legally, Gabrielle Cuffman. I am from East Nashville, eloped in Georgia, and now back in Tennessee to finish this dang degree. I am here solely because "it's the right thing to do."
ReplyDeleteHi so my name is Jalen. I'm just an upbeat guy who overthinks every possible encounter I have. I enjoy getting an education or at least I tell myself that so I don't get bored with college like I did with high school. I'm here at MTSU to get educated first and foremost, secondly I suppose I could end up graduating and getting a degree. Then I suppose I will just swan dive into getting a masters and spending more time in school! As sarcastic as that may sound, I do plan on spending a lot of time in school so that I can prolong the whole process of finding my true calling. I like to think that I'm friendly so definitely feel free to approach me and chit chat. I'm always up for a new friend! Also, a fair warning you should be aware of: If you happen to look at me and I look mad or anything related to that emotion, chances are I am the furthest thing from it. I tend to be in constant thought and have resting b*tch face. So take that into consideration when thinking about striking up a conversation. I'm never gonna be the one to be as mean as I look. As far as Schopenhaur's quote, I would have to disagree. Although we all search for happiness at some point in time, I believe we all fall short but that it shouldn't depress us but only make us want to search harder. On top of that, we don't want to search for happiness with greed or in vain. As to say, "I have found happiness and now I want more happiness." That is silly to me. Okay I'm done sharing. Thanks for reading if you got this far! I hope to have conversations with you in the future!
ReplyDeleteWe should be friends. I have a resting b*tch face too
DeleteNever noticed your RBF before, Jalen. You always seem so serene and friendly.
DeleteHi all my name is Caroline. Originally I am from New Hampshire, which is where I graduated high school. I came to MTSU and am studying Philosophy, Religion and Psychology. Sooner or later, I wish to either continue my education in grad school or attend Mortician school here in Nashville. Yes, death is a big fascination of mine because it is something all us humans experience and will not be able to escape. Very much looking forward to class, and the discussions we are going to have. I think happiness comes from the individual. I agree with Schopenhauer completely. Happiness is not something that I believe is to be 'searched' for. If one searches for what we call 'happiness' I think we as humans will easily bypass what it really is, because we never seem to settle. I believe happiness is right here, right now. Me typing these words on this page is my happiness at this moment. Happiness for me, does not come from the past or future. My happiness is right here, right now, it is always in my present moment.
ReplyDeleteThe past is gone, the future is still nonexistent... But, can't we be happy NOW when contemplating the actual past or the possible future? I feel like I do that all the time.
DeleteDeath is highly fascinating. To me the only thing that can rival its wonder would be the cosmos.
DeleteSalute tout le monde! My name is Kaitlin Wright, but I have always been Katie. I speak really quickly. So no, I didn't guzzle 3 espressos nor am I nervous. I love to travel and have spend every opportunity possible visiting my friends in France, England, and Germany. I'm here because my parents wanted a boy and the third time was not the charm.
ReplyDeleteWe're all extremely lucky to be here, when considering how many merely-possible people might instead have taken our place. You must feel even MORE extremely lucky (and grateful, and happy) to be here, if your progenitors had a different intention. (DId they really tell you that?!)
DeleteHello my name is Dilyse! I am excited about this class and everyone seems to be fun and optimistic. I hope this class will enlighten me on different theories and methods of happiness. I also strive to be a happy person so I hope it helps me to be more happy. I love music, writing, singing, drinking, hockey, sec football, and of course philosophy! After I achieve my bachelors I hope to get my masters and then do some traveling to other countries. So far this class is looking like my favorite one this semester. I look forward to getting to know all of you better.
ReplyDeleteRight, even the pessimists who have Schopenhauer trending on our site seem to be upbeat and positive. I really do believe happiness is independent of optimism/pessimism... but personally, I prefer an attitude of hopeful expectation to one of cynical despair. "Because I'm happy..."
Deletehello Everyone, my name is Jessica. I am from Nashville, Tennessee. Considering that the universe is bigger than I can imagine,constantly expanding and changing yet I haven't visited any farther than the southeast states of America, I haven't been anywhere really. I like wonder and reason, I like understanding and truth. I think that happiness is something than can be searched for in a sense that it is a collection of things that generates a happy mood. I think you can be happy, but not necessarily have a happy life. I mean that happy is a mood, and with enough of that mood you could gain overall happiness. I could go on forever pulling examples out of my life experiences and hypothesizing, but it would not be as cool because I wouldn't get to converse face to face with all of you. Not that I have a problem technological communication. As for Schopenhauer, he obviously has a problem with "the young people these days". But on a serious note, I believe that Schopenhauer has some sort of depression. It seems he is proposing the idea that happiness could be met in the afterlife and is not meant for the current life. Maybe because of the many things in life that seem to be put up to prevent people from happiness or the commonly sold idea of happiness. What ever the case is I definitely believe happiness is a state that everyone should search for, so long as it is not physically or mentally detrimental to this planet or its' many living creatures. This post says anonymous, tho.
ReplyDelete"It seems he is proposing the idea that happiness could be met in the afterlife and is not meant for the current life" - definitely not Schopenhauer's view, he was an atheist. But I think you're probably right that he suffered some form of depression, around which he built a metaphysic ("World as Will" etc.) that made sense from his emotionally stunted point of view. In the absence of appropriate medication, that might have been his best strategy. And I think he was, if not "happy" in a world of woe, at least as well adjusted to it as HE could be (given his personal mental makeup).
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DeleteSorry, I screwed up posting. Super glad it keeps this here though so everyone knows of my blunder.
Delete"All (good) writing is re-writing"...
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ReplyDeleteHello happiness hopefuls, strap on your brains because unfortunately for you writing and philosophy happen to make me quite happy. Apparently it makes me so happy that I have doubled my allotted word count. I wish I were sorry for that. I suppose I'll have to reply to my own comment if you care enough to read my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI am called Zac Davis, anything beyond that is open to speculation. If it is true that we are what we do, then I'm sure you could find all the skinny details of who I am buried somewhere in what is the permanent record of my generation, the internet. Perhaps one day I might even perform a feat so neat as to inspire some poor fellow to break out his shovel and erect a full-scale figure of fossils comprised of the pieces that he thinks I once was. My only hope, if I am still living, is that he comes to me for council beforehand, so I may strangle him before he can complete his task. (I consider this a clear and fair warning to that future person and hereby submit it into my record for his findings.) For if he succeeds than Lance will be right, and who I am will be defined only as how others see me. All I ever was will be reduced to what can be found or remembered. While who other people see me as will always be a part of who I am, to interpret that without the companionship of the other part would be a misleading representation that would bore me to tears. The other half of who I am, who I believe we all are, is exactly who I see myself to be when I close my eyes and envision the perfect self. Essentially, I am the character I play for the world, the one that is to be recounted by others, and the character I play for myself, the one that I must remember in order to preserve. All of my tendencies, preferences and actions reside in the first character; my beliefs, desires and ambitions in the second. I find it an exercise in futility to attempt to influence the interpretation of my first character by others, for their judgment belongs to their own second character and I have no way of accurately identifying just what they might think of me. Though it remains primarily unseen, I believe it is everyone’s second character that encapsulates the vast majority of who they actually are, and I believe only fools to be capable of changing their second character through the analysis of another’s first. If we allow the representative character of someone to change the way we think, especially about ourselves, we have have successfully stripped away the only piece of who we are that remains under our control. By abandoning any obligation I might feel to present my first character in a palatable manner to others, I free myself to live as only who I wish to be. This fluid concept of self enables me to critique and perfect my identity until I appease the only person that will truly ever know me, myself. Our first character will always appear to us as one color and to others as a different one. The first key to my sustained happiness was adopting a colorblind outward approach to my public persona. I am only to myself the person I want to be, and only to you what you wish of me. Consider me who you think I am, for I am certainly him, but understand that I am also in no way that person.
Before I touch on why I am here, for God only knows how long that will take me to explain, I would like to touch on Schopenhaur's quotation, as well my own view on happiness. Schopenhaur, from what I see, is half right. I agree with the notion that most of us are doomed to misery because we assume that happiness must be met with in life. While I wholeheartedly believe that everything about death will be more pleasant than life, and do thereby believe that true happiness will be met with in death, I do not wish to delve into that as reasoning for my agreement with him. I believe that happiness cannot be found in life, but rather must be found from life. All earthbound instruments of joy merely grant us situational happiness. They grant us pleasure while they are present, but are not strong enough to echo that feeling through the rest of our lives after they depart. These are the happinesses that we always seek, regularly find and are never enough. The only enduring happiness that life gives us comes from simply being alive. It is through this that we must create a blanket happiness from which all other circumstances, whether positive or negative, must never be able to dwarf or thwart. No matter how great things may go, it’ll never be better than being alive. Conversely, no matter how terribly those same things may go, it must never force you to forget the happiness of living. This however is far too cliché for my liking. I prefer to use this same idea, but also to take it a step further. If being alive is the best part about life, then that which ends the best thing in life, death, must then be the worst. (Now I’ve already told you that I do not believe this to be true, for I truly believe death to be the better if life is to be the good, but for the sake of this explanation I shall pretend that I do.) If we know that the worst thing in life, with its infinite permanency, will replace the best thing in life, then how can we use this knowledge to disregard life’s fragility and find happiness? For me it is through nihilism. If we accept that our deaths will nullify our lives and that nothing in our lives will stave off death, then is it not fair to say that nothing about our lives matters more than death? And if death is the most important aspect of life, then nothing we shall encounter along the road to our demise will matter once we reach our destination. Therefore nothing in life can really matter. Now you can allow that to be the most incredibly dismal and depressing idea you’ve ever heard, or you can flip over the looking glass and see that it is actually the absolute, most freeing situation imaginable. Everything in life, except for life itself, is placed in the same unessential category. Nothing in life is either good or bad, it is just simply what it is. There are no failures or victories, no positives or negatives, only experiences. The only inherent good comes from the ability to experience and the only inherently bad comes from the conscious choice to forgo those experiences. In order to be happy in this line of thinking we must actively seek out experiences, whether those be perceived as good or bad by the rest of our species, and do so with a joyous heart that only being alive can produce. This is not to say that our joyous idiot is correct and that all that is bad in life is also good, but it is to say that with this cornerstone of happiness one needn’t worry about classification at all. Happiness only comes with living, and the way I see it the only sad part about all this is that we have nothing besides life to spend our lives on.
DeleteFinally, why I am here. The answer to this has only fairly recently dawned on me. Now that I can see it I cannot understand how I once did not. It is beautiful in its simplicity. I am here to fuck shit up. I’m here to play the anti-hero. Not the villain, I wouldn’t fit in on the dark side either, but rather as a test to the protagonist and compel him or her to become greater. I am here to out the wolves wearing sheep’s wool, as well as the sheepish disguising themselves as the alpha wolf. I am here to put fear into powerful men and to topple tyrants. I’m here to spit in the face of conventional thinking and to force the blind to use another’s eyes to see. I’m here to swear at the easily offended and to pull the chair out from under the smugly comfortable. I’m here to illuminate the darkness that surrounds the ignorant and snuff out the light that blinds the faithful. I’m here to challenge the status quo, learn and then fight the law, incite the revolution and redistribute the wealth. I’m here to promote social deforestation. I am here to tumble the tall trees that have been left unchecked for centuries to unjustly monopolize the canopy, and create a new place in the sun for a crop of young deservers. Such is the natural order of life, but the greed in our culture inhibits some from passing along even after they have passed away. I am here to save the Earth, so that the next in line has a chance to save mankind. I am here to meet fellow philosophically inclined minds that might just fancy the spread of a new enlightenment. I’m here to meet happy individuals that understand the secret, and to convince them to become artists and architects of The Renaissance X.
DeleteOf all the amazing things you say here, Zac, this may be the most startling: "everything about death will be more pleasant than life...true happiness will be met with in death" etc. I don't quite grasp that, but I look forward to hearing more about it!
DeleteOh, and it seems to me you buried the lead: "I am here to save the Earth"... Thank goodness you've come!!
Of all the amazing things you say here, Zac, this may be the most startling: "everything about death will be more pleasant than life...true happiness will be met with in death" etc. I don't quite grasp that, but I look forward to hearing more about it!
DeleteOh, and it seems to me you buried the lead: "I am here to save the Earth"... Thank goodness you've come!!
Hello everyone! My name is Crystal and I am studying Psychology, Philosophy, and Gender and Sexuality here at MTSU. I am an incredibly passionate person and hope to use what I learn here to change the world one day making it a happier and more equal place for everyone. Let's have a great semester!
ReplyDeleteI really love it that so many students lately are expressing a zeal for reform and improvement, changing/saving the world, expanding the circle of happiness. Millennials may be the most idealistic generation since, I don't know, mine?
DeleteInteresting! But we'll always want to wonder about some people's misperceived needs. That suicide shooter in Virginia yesterday, for instance, presumably perceived a need for attention/revenge/notoriety/infamy... I guess he met those needs. I wouldn't call him happy. For me at least, as for the old Greeks, happiness is a species of virtue that must involve doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason etc.
ReplyDeleteI like what the old Greeks are saying��
DeleteJessica
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ReplyDeleteHello everyone! My name is Matthew Bergmann (I go by Mills, my middle name). I came to MTSU from Atlanta in pursuit of the audio production degree offered in the field of Recording Industry. I enjoy all of my studio classes and recording classes, but always find the need to throw in a class that makes you think much more deeply. I have always enjoyed philosophy and think this course will be my favorite one yet. Happiness is such an interesting subject matter because of how many different ways it can be felt and achieved. I am very excited to explore with all my fellow "co-philosphers" the different aspects of happiness and have many enlightening conversations with you all!
ReplyDeleteHappiness is one of the recurrent and perennial themes in the recording industry, isn't it? How many pop songs feature it, either celebrating its presence or decrying its absence?
DeleteHey everybody! My name is Christian Raborg. I am originally from Peru and I moved here to the states when I was 10 years old. I first arrived at Atlanta and lived there for a time before moving here to Tennessee. I am here at MTSU to study digital media communication and hopefully get a degree! I am in this class because I think happiness is a very important part of life and I've only been able to find instances of it, just little moments here and there. So I am interested to see other perspectives and learn more about it.
ReplyDeleteMTSU has become so much more interestingly cosmopolitan and diverse in the time I've been here. The Vulcan philosophy of IDIC may be our salvation!
DeleteWell, I feel like I am in for an intriguing and interesting class based upon the posts from everyone!
ReplyDeleteSo... Hey there, My name is Jennifer Rhodes, born in Baltimore but raised in East Tennessee ..you know, NASCAR.. and truly beautiful scenery! Although, I was mostly raised in the same place, I did a lot of moving around and to say the least I was exposed to a lot in my childhood and into adolescence. Through all my experiences in life, I fount my goals and passions early on and that is to be involved in the Improvement of the Child Welfare System. Anywho, I am a Social Worker major with a minor in Psychology; My population of interest is Juvenile Delinquents and my main passion in life is to reform how Youth Development Centers (prison for minors) and Detention Centers programs are being run when we are dealing with a population who is in a prime developmental stage. I currently work for the Court Improvement Program in Nashville and I serve as a Peer Advocate for youth in custody. I absolutely do not know what else I would do with my life if I could not spending it aiding adolescents to rise above any faults and failures they have experienced in their lives. Aside from this, I moved to MTSU to start a life of my own away from anything I knew as I think it is very important to put yourself in unfamiliar places in order for self-discovery.
I am excited for this course and to see the diverse views and opinions flow to expand my own perspective. I feel as for me, happiness finds you by learning who you are as an individual and really being genuine to others and yourself. Happiness, in my opinion, is not something you can strive to achieve but better is discovered when you allow yourself to not take everything so seriously, keep your eyes on your passions, thirst for knowledge, don't allow your expectations to demean another, show not only acceptance but appreciate diversity, and give yourself time to be alone and process interactions. Of course, this are just some of the ways I have experienced achieving happiness within my own world.
I am looking forward to this class and really enjoyed to perspective I gained from the Ethics course I took last semester and find the Philosophical points of view intriguing. It is definitely a change up from being in Social Work courses!
Lots of great happiness advice there, especially the alone-time and not taking things too solemnly - the world sometimes seems to be in conspiracy against both of those, but they're the main source of whatever sanity I can claim.
DeleteI am Shawn Illenberg, 19 years old, second year in college. But more importantly, I am a free thinker, a man who breaks sterotypes, and someone who is still very much on a journey to find who I am. But why am I here? MTSU was also the place for me, close by, cheap, and relativly good faculty and programs. I took this class because I think my view on happiness is very different than most people and I am really curious to find out how other people view happiness and if anybody else shares my views.
ReplyDelete"Relatively good" - I'll take it!
DeleteYou made the right choice choosing this school, Shawn. It's great here and hopefully you will enjoy the remainder of your college career.
DeleteHi all! My name is Jesse Brandon and I am a senior integrated studies major. I took this route because I have changed my major several times and have no real idea as to what I really want to do for a career, However, I do know I would prefer to not do the same thing my entire life; this is because I see myself as a Renaissance man/man of many talents. I am a creative, open-minded and friendly individual, so feel free to talk to me. As for this class, I choose to take Philosophy of Happiness because I am interested in learning more about the concept of happiness. More often than not, I feel like I'm happy and am often told I am an unusually happy person, but i would like to understand more than just the feeling. I am ready to hear everyone's', the classes' and the scholars',different views on happiness and very excited to watch this class unfold.
ReplyDeleteIt's cool that you use the term "renaissance man" because I've always wanted to be the same. I actually just found out about integrated studies today and am more than considering changing my major in very much the same way you described.
DeleteJessica
I'd love to hear more about integrated studies... the original ideal of the university was precisely that, before specialization ran amok.
DeleteHi everyone, , Im Damon McCook. This is my last semester here at MTSU. I am a Psych Major, with minors in Philosophy and History. I am orginally from California, ive been in Nashville since 2009. I train police dogs, protection dogs, search and rescue dogs, really all dogs but working dogs are my specialty. I have a beautiful 3 year old daughter who is my entire world. I am really looking forward to this class. I had another one of Dr. Oliver's classes and we fooled around with doing the class in a peripatetic fashion and i really enjoyed it. Good luck everyone see ya tonight.
ReplyDeleteDamon, sounds like a you had a great time in the other course you took with Dr. Oliver. I am excited about this course.
DeleteIf you fool around long enough with things you care about, I've learned, you may sometimes eventually reap happy returns. I think that earlier fooling is about to pay off!
DeleteMy name is Fadi Hakeem and I am a Liberal Studies major graduating in December. I have switched majors many times due to different interests and occasional obstacles, but I now have a clear understanding of what I would like to pursue academically. I chose to enroll in this course because of its title. A title like this not only pulls the student in but makes him wonder what kind of material they will come across throughout the semester. I am originally from Egypt, and I have lived in Nashville since I was four years old. MTSU seemed like the best option for a local school, and I think it's safe to say that I made the right decision coming here. Its been a wonderful four years, and I look forward to a great last semester.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you and all the other pending grads, I hope we can send you off happy!
DeleteI am Dustin Wells. I am a philosophy major and a happy person. I am here to study philosophy. In the future I would like to write books and be on a board of ethics somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever heard of anyone aspiring to be on an ethics board. Will you also write books about ethics?
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