Podcast ch1... Happiness 2
1. What nation did Gallup find to be happiest in terms of daily experience?
2. What does Haybron say will most likely NOT be on your deathbed list of things you'd like to experience again before you go?
3. Which of Haybron's three happiness theories is not mainly concerned with feelings?
4. Your posture or stride reveals something deeper than what?
5. Tranquility, confidence, and expansiveness are aspects of what state of mind/body?
6. What famous western Buddhist says happiness is an optimal state of being, much more than a feeling?
(Ace the quiz with six correct answers, including answers to non-redundant quiz questions posted before class in the comments section by a classmate, and score a run. You can also score by posting such a question yourself- but don't take credit for answering your own question.)
Discussion Questions:
- Do you agree that there's never been a better time to be alive? 1
- Do you think many poor communities are happier than the average college student? 3
- How important is health, and healthcare, in your conception of happiness? 7
- Do we need a theory or definition of happiness? 10
- Can you be a genuinely happy individual in an unhappy society? 13
- How much does happiness depend on achieving a "mindless" state such as Haybron's dad described? 14
- Can you describe a pictorial moment of your own like the one in the photo of Haybron and his dad? 18
- Do you agree that Americans pursue joy, where Asians seek attunement? Who's happier? 19
- Do you ever "flow"? 21
- Do you share the Stoic quest for "at home"-ness as the mark of happiness? 22
- Do you experience "time poverty"? 25
(Score a run if you posted a non-redundant DQ in the comments section before class. Remember to log in your notebook all the runs you will be claiming on the scorecard each day, so that your discussion group's scorekeeper can certify them and post the totals.)
 | Calvin and Hobbes (@Calvinn_Hobbes) |
Longreads
Are Americans sacrificing their right to walk? http://lgrd.co/1MYKyNw (@amalchik, @aeonmag) #longreads pic.twitter.com/Q6ZxNhUqcD
Haybron mentions several times age and life expectancy as factors of happiness. Aside from exceptional cases, like the terminally ill, does the time you have left on Earth really have that much impact on your overall well-being? Or is it more contingent upon what you do with it?
ReplyDeleteI would say it's 100% more cons contingent upon what you do with it. Not to sound cliche, but I think life shouldn't be measured in years, but measured by how much life was put into those years. If you've lived a life you've found boring and miserable, you're may have regrets when death finally does come. And if you've lived a life of adventure and excitement, you may be more okay with taking the final step in life.
DeleteThe phenomenon of "oikeion" definitely resonates with me as a necessity of happiness. Being "at home" with life and self breeds a specific kind of freedom within that person. She is not stressed by managing appearances or deciding how to act, but free to express herself exactly as she is. Furthermore, such a person will not be disheartened by failure or fear of failure, but will know her own limits and be more willing to challenge them--thus engaging more fully in life.
ReplyDeleteDiscussion question: Do you agree that there's never been a better time to be alive? 1
ReplyDeleteI think I would have to disagree with this statement, I believe we as humans are way to privileged and that our over abundance of privileges are over looking what we are really 'living for.' We have things too easy, everything we could ever want is at the tip of our fingers. Sure, some things are harder than others but we can easily access what we want. (Which definitely, is not always a good thing). We need to stop the increase of technology, it is going to ruin a lot of things in life.
Do you agree that there's never been a better time to be alive?
ReplyDeleteI dont know if i agree with that. Haybron believes that tranquility and attunement are the cornerstones of happiness. It seems like most people these days are the exact opposite of attune. They worry and stress about the tiniest things. Constantly on facebook or twitter and reading the terrible things on the news. It seems having a shorter life would be worth it if it was a meaning life, one with attunement and tranquility.
Would you rather live a shorter life full of attunement and tranquility, like the Maasai, or a longer life filled with stress and worry?
ReplyDeleteInitially, -almost instinctively- I believe I would opt for more time inundated with excess stress and worry. I could easily see myself rushing to rationalize/perceive the progressive weight -imposed by excess stress and worry- as infinitesimal or, even beneficial towards a, potentially, misguided goal/idea of success. Moreover, I believe if one is able to take a step back and look at his path/decisions from a third point perspective it becomes apparent that this type of path can easily become a quasi-figure-eight; one with no real escape, gradient nor reward- other than one’s own fleeting, stagnant existence. After some consideration, -that, realistically, and unfortunately, I doubt I would find the time or mind to exercise-I have come to find the ability to flourish as an individual (mentally, spiritually, metaphysically, ect.) within the confines of a shorter life filled with attunement and tranquility, overall, more rewarding and comforting; but, also, much easier to pass-up if not careful.
DeleteNon-redundant question:
ReplyDeleteAccording to Haybron, which aspect of Western civilization do most indigenous people envy?
Health care
DeleteWhat did Haybron say the opposite of attunement, disattunement, was more like?
ReplyDeleteDQ: Would it be troubling to try to live a life of happiness in light of these theories while maintaining your current lifestyle?
Do you think we should start leading simple lives that resemble that of the pariahs? why?
ReplyDelete