Lenoir 4-6 (Voltaire, Socrates, Jesus, Kant). LISTEN: Socrates (IOT)
1. The direction of wisdom, says Andre Comte-Sponville, is what?
2. What's Lenoir's definition (so far) of happiness?
3. What's Matthieu Ricard's "primary aspiration"?
4. The pursuit of happiness demands what from us?
5. Who said "full and complete happiness does not exist on earth" but is an "ideal of imagination"?
6. What kind of happiness did Socrates and Jesus seek?
DQ:
- Do you know anyone like the Brahmin's neighbor, entirely unreflective and entirely happy? (33) Do you envy or pity them?
- COMMENT: "Those who use their reason will always prefer a true idea that makes them unhappy" (34)... Is it in fact better to be Socrates unsatisfied etc.?
- Do you wish to be "nothing but happy"? (37) If you say yes, are you effectively declaring your preference for virtual reality and a life of illusion?
- What good reason is there to consider renouncing happiness? (38)
- Do you ever try to "lose [yourself] in a permanent hyperactivity"? (40) Does our culture, generally? Do we "amuse ourselves to death," in Neil Postman's phrase?
- Is it better to be worthy of happiness than to be happy? (41)
- Do we have a duty to be happy? (42)
- Is it a mistake to identify the good life with the happy life?
- Is it noble to sacrifice personal happiness for a cause larger than yourself? Or is that just what we should mean by the highest happiness?
- Does illusory happiness interest you?
- Can you be happy in the absence of meaning and truth?
- Do you share Matthieu Ricard's "primary aspiration"? Does it set the bar too high?
- Do you know people who "lose themselves in a permanent hyperactivity, artificially filling the emptiness of their lives"? Is that a fair characterization, or an external view from an unsympathetic perspective?
- Is it your duty to make yourself worthy of happiness, to be as happy as possible, both, neither... or is talk of "duty" irrelevant to the question of happiness?
- Were Socrates and Jesus happy? Are martyrs happy, generally? Do you wish for a cause to die for?
- Your DQs
does illusionary happiness interest you?
ReplyDeleteno it does not.
Were Socrates and Jesus happy? Are martyrs happy, generally? Do you wish for a cause to die for?
ReplyDeleteYes I believe they were happy. It may not have been a "click your heels" kind but it was no less happiness. If anything, they were likely able to experience a deep and abiding joy in knowing it was a life well-lived. However, I do not feel comfortable in extending this to all martyrs. Many live in misery for years prior to their deaths--just check this website http://www.amnestyusa.org/. I do not think it would be a far leap to say that they are at peace, though.
I, personally, believe I am currently in possession of causes worth living and dying for. And I would not be dissatisfied if that were the way my life ended.
Quiz Question
ReplyDelete"'Happy idiots' are perfectly happy so long as they what?
Discussion Question
ReplyDeleteWhat does it look like to "master our pleasures and put them in order"?
DQ: How does one even know if they're living an 'illusory life?' Can we ever really tell what is true and what is not?
ReplyDeleteI think this is an excellent question! It seems that the notion of an "illusory life" immediately implies the existence objective truth. Therefore, one's goal in escaping a life of illusion is to seek the truth and form a moral foundation from there that allows our perspective to guide us correctly and hopefully brings happiness in return.
DeleteHowever, I do not know if it is imperative to believe in or adhere to a type of objective morality in order to escape an illusory life.
Quiz Question: What does Saint. Augustine write about ones desire for happiness?
ReplyDeleteDQ from up top: Does illusionary happiness interest you?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely
QQ: (T/F) According to Plato, Socrates preferred to seek a "happy" life.
ReplyDeleteDQ: As far as your goals, do you see yourself as the achieving & perserveering type or the dreaming type?
I'm definitely a dreaming type. I've come to the conclusion that if I set a goal for something, once I achieve that goal I have a feeling of boredom or dissatisfaction that hits me like a brick. So by putting off things, telling myself I'll do things later, or saying that it's "future Lance's problem." Gives me a since of relief that I do to have to do something makes me much happier than if I actually achieve that 'goal.'
DeleteQQ: What is the goal of philosophy to Sponville?
ReplyDeleteDQ: As far as your goals, do you see yourself as the achieving & perserveering type or the dreaming type?
I am a dreamer. But, I realize how important it is to be able to push yourself to achieve. Because not taking action is taking an action. Is it just a light switch you flip on? I feel like it is just a skill you develop.
Q: Does illusory happiness interest you?
ReplyDeleteA: no illusory happiness does not interest me, true happiness between family and friend is what interests me.
Does illusory happiness interest you?
ReplyDeleteSure, even if it is a false happiness, why not? Better to be happy than to be unhappy.
Can you be happy in the absence of meaning and truth?
ReplyDeleteYes I can, but it will be temporary happiness that will vanish when the truth appears. Happiness is a reward for an achievement of a meaningful goal.
Do you share Matthieu Ricard's "primary aspiration"? Does it set the bar too high?
ReplyDeleteNo he doesn't, actually. It's the sad truth, and I'm afraid he's spot on.
"Does illusory happiness interest you?"
ReplyDeleteIf this question refers to the phenomenon of happiness that only exists until you look at it too closely, than no.
It's like living in a very poorly-made house that's only standing because you never touch the walls: it works until you touch the walls.
Illusory happiness doesn't interest me in the slightest.. I'd rather be wise and knowledgeable of the truth than to be a blissful idiot. this kind of relates to when we talk about E.B. White's quote (i think that's the guy) that is torn between living a life of happiness or to strive to change the world. i'd rather live a life striving for truth and also I think it's telling that if you're even struggling with the question in the first place then it shows that you cannot choose the blissfully ignorant path.
ReplyDeleteI think Kant's view is so silly. I'd like to discuss this in class. I feel it's painfully obvious that actions are louder than words and ANYONE in their right mind would be furious at their best friend for selling them out. and lying in itself is no bad feat, it's the consequences and the negative energy that exudes from lying that creates a problem.
ReplyDeleteCan you be happy in the absence of meaning and truth?
ReplyDeleteI don't believe so, at least for meaning. If you have no meaning, what are you to be happy about? What is your happiness from and what is it ultimately for? Why would something that doesn't have any meaning to you provide you with any sort of happiness? I think meaning implies some sort of emotional connection to what has meaning and yourself. As for truth, one cannot be content with creating a lie for themselves and really be truly happy. Deception towards one's self doesn't work.
Can you be happy in the absence of meaning and truth?
ReplyDeleteFor myself personally, no. I will always seek something that makes sense for everyone, not just to my own assurance or comfort. Perhaps this is why I find it happiness a hard thing to wrap my head around. However, I think it is very possible for many people to find happiness without truth and meaning. It doesn't take a super genius to see that quite the majority of people around us are living this way every single day. Does it discredit their happiness? I don't think it's my place to say.
What good reason is there to consider renouncing happiness?
ReplyDeleteA simple answer would be to hypothesize a scenario in which happiness is sacrificed in a virtuous act or sustained action. For example it could be someone dedicating their lives to taking care of the ill or disadvantaged and at the same time enduring heightened stress and exhaustion in the process of trying to help others prosper. Of course, this could result in happiness when seeing the effects of one's actions, but in this scenario the energy spent in the act is overwhelming and thus reduces potential happiness that has been renounced. In this case, I find that one could argue it is “good” to renounce happiness.
Generally, this type of dedication or action seems rare; although it is not uncommon, as we have discussed before, for people to sometimes focus on others’ happiness before their own and this can sometimes bring unhappiness. In a strange way, it seems that when one cannot realize their potential to be happy, the idea, itself, brings further unhappiness. Thus renunciation of it entirely allows a reduction in stress or anxiety that stems from the lack of happiness. While this may not necessarily be sustainable or “good,” it does seem to possess a type of pragmatism for making it through daily life.
DQ: Is it possible to view morality as subjective and avoid an illusory life?
ReplyDeleteDo you ever try to "lose [yourself] in a permanent hyperactivity"? (40) Does our culture, generally? Do we "amuse ourselves to death," in Neil Postman's phrase?
ReplyDeleteI would answer yes, but I would also argue the state of permanent hyperactivity is one of inactivity. The type of activity sought is neither beneficial nor mentally engaging. It is another scroll through a feed of information lacking substance or the next video or show that peeks my interest. This type of "activity" allows one to remain both content and stagnant. In this sense I find that progress ends when intentional distraction is chosen.
DQ:
ReplyDeleteDo you know anyone like the friend who has a 'musicical soul' described on page 39? Do they seem happy?
What do you think of Kant's statement, 'Do what makes your worth of being happy'? Do you think happiness is an entitlement or something you have to be worthy of?
Do you agree that Socrates and Jesus had similar ideas on happiness? Why or why not?
What are your personal happiness obstacles? Do you accept these obstacles or fight them? Elaborate.
Do you think it is possible to both know truth and happiness or are they counterbalanced?
It comes across as somewhat crass to make this judgement without at least intimately knowing someone, and even then it is hard for me to declare that someone is truly unreflective and happy. However, if this judgement were correct, I wonder how possible it is for someone to even be aware they in this state of being, thus incapable of acquiring whatever the “correct” perspective may be. Therefore, it is hard to fault them, and I neither pity nor envy them.
ReplyDeleteDQ: What is the impact of the Brahmin’s neighbor’s condition? Is it significant? Should it be acknowledged at all?
Extra questions for chapter 4-6:
ReplyDelete1) What is the name of the short tail that Voltaire used?
2) What is the name of the fine book that Matthieu Ricard wrote?
3) Was he Amish or Monk?
4) On page 43, Socrates was compared to Jesus, what was the comparison about?
5) Why did Socrates not wanted to disobey the laws of the City?
6) According to Plato, who preferred to seek a “good” life?