Philosophy in Fall:Philosophy in Fall:What is Happiness?What is Happiness?

Feraco-EberleFeraco-Eberle

SFHPSFHP

7 November 20087 November 2008

The Question SeriesThe Question Series What is Choice? – √What is Choice? – √ What is Morality? - √What is Morality? - √ What is Happiness?What is Happiness? What is the Soul?What is the Soul? What is Death?What is Death? What is the Meaning of Life?What is the Meaning of Life? My Philosophy (Rough Draft + Final Draft)My Philosophy (Rough Draft + Final Draft)

What is Happiness?What is Happiness? Look at the StarsLook at the Stars Return of the QuotesReturn of the Quotes The Teleological The Teleological

Approach to Goodness Approach to Goodness (and Happiness!)(and Happiness!)

Deontology vs. Deontology vs. Teleology – Which One Teleology – Which One Will You Choose?Will You Choose?

Becoming Worthy of Becoming Worthy of HappinessHappiness

The Pursuit of The Pursuit of HappinessHappiness

Everything is Everything is Connected – For Better Connected – For Better or Worseor Worse

Why Do We Sabotage Why Do We Sabotage Ourselves?Ourselves?

““I Have Known I Have Known Bruises…”Bruises…”

The Writing The Writing AssignmentAssignment

Return of the QuoteReturn of the Quote Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may

make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness.worthy of happiness.

Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant We are always getting ready to live but never living.We are always getting ready to live but never living.

Ralph Waldo Ralph Waldo EmersonEmerson

Is Emerson wise to value experience over goals? How Is Emerson wise to value experience over goals? How separable are the two?separable are the two?

Is Kant right?Is Kant right?

Aristotle and GoodnessAristotle and Goodness Aristotle – one of our great minds – took what we call a Aristotle – one of our great minds – took what we call a

teleological approachteleological approach to “good” to “good” Telos: Greek – meanings vary from “bullseye” and “goal” to “purpose”Telos: Greek – meanings vary from “bullseye” and “goal” to “purpose”

To him, something was good when it “fulfilled its destiny” – To him, something was good when it “fulfilled its destiny” – when it completed a goal, when it lives up to the when it completed a goal, when it lives up to the expectations that led to its importance to begin withexpectations that led to its importance to begin with

If I tell you that I plan to teach about a “good book,” I’m If I tell you that I plan to teach about a “good book,” I’m really signaling to you that the book satisfies my criteria for really signaling to you that the book satisfies my criteria for goodness.goodness.

Perhaps I’ve decided it’s a “good book” because I believe books have Perhaps I’ve decided it’s a “good book” because I believe books have to contain exciting moments in order to be good (and it has them), or to contain exciting moments in order to be good (and it has them), or because I decided that good books need interesting characters (and it because I decided that good books need interesting characters (and it has them)has them)

However, if you believe that “good” books However, if you believe that “good” books have to havehave to have a predictable a predictable story/an ending that “doesn’t make you think” (which it story/an ending that “doesn’t make you think” (which it doesn’tdoesn’t have), have), however, you won’t think the book is very good at allhowever, you won’t think the book is very good at all

Your expectations for the book were different from mineYour expectations for the book were different from mine This explains the “Death Cab Paradox” – we judge it This explains the “Death Cab Paradox” – we judge it

differently because we have different expectations for the differently because we have different expectations for the music we hear (i.e. you need songs to have energy, or to be music we hear (i.e. you need songs to have energy, or to be technically difficult – but I need them to have melody and technically difficult – but I need them to have melody and good lyrics)good lyrics)

Teleology and ChoiceTeleology and Choice Teleology, therefore, allows us to give things purposes of our choosing – Teleology, therefore, allows us to give things purposes of our choosing –

and for us to be alternately satisfied or disappointed by how well and for us to be alternately satisfied or disappointed by how well something lives up to that “reason for being”something lives up to that “reason for being”

This, in turn, allows us to develop morals and ethicsThis, in turn, allows us to develop morals and ethics Remember that we established that morals and ethics, for good or for ill, Remember that we established that morals and ethics, for good or for ill,

provide us with a framework for our interpretations – and therefore our provide us with a framework for our interpretations – and therefore our goals!goals!

Our goals Our goals becomebecome our reason for being – and our sense of satisfaction our reason for being – and our sense of satisfaction becomes dependent on how well we live up to our expectations and becomes dependent on how well we live up to our expectations and hopes for ourselveshopes for ourselves

Without goals, we have nothing to aim for, and therefore nothing to make us Without goals, we have nothing to aim for, and therefore nothing to make us satisfied.satisfied.

Our goals can be inwardly directed (something that satisfies us) or Our goals can be inwardly directed (something that satisfies us) or outwardly directed (something that satisfies someone else)outwardly directed (something that satisfies someone else)

In short, In short, our morality becomes the means by which we can earn our morality becomes the means by which we can earn happinesshappiness; if our morality is determined by choice and experience, then ; if our morality is determined by choice and experience, then one could argue that we all control whether we’ll be happy.one could argue that we all control whether we’ll be happy.

Emerson’s quote seems more interesting in this contextEmerson’s quote seems more interesting in this context On the one hand, we have to live at some point – we have to On the one hand, we have to live at some point – we have to dodo

something instead of just talking about it, or we’ll never satisfy those something instead of just talking about it, or we’ll never satisfy those goalsgoals

On the other hand, we can still be happy if we plan On the other hand, we can still be happy if we plan as well asas well as live; we live; we may not achieve full satisfaction all at once, but we’ll always be hitting may not achieve full satisfaction all at once, but we’ll always be hitting somesome benchmark (before moving on to the next goal so we can benchmark (before moving on to the next goal so we can experience experience newnew happiness!) happiness!)

Teleology and DeontologyTeleology and Deontology Now let’s move on to Kant’s argument; can those goals Now let’s move on to Kant’s argument; can those goals

become the ways in which we make ourselves become the ways in which we make ourselves worthyworthy of of happiness?happiness?

Kant was what we call a Kant was what we call a deontologistdeontologist – someone who – someone who believes that goodness grows out of morals, rather than the believes that goodness grows out of morals, rather than the other way around (which we argued yesterday)other way around (which we argued yesterday)

According to Kant, morality meant that you acted on the According to Kant, morality meant that you acted on the basis of what you were expected to do alone – meaning that basis of what you were expected to do alone – meaning that you were really pleasing to a teleologist!you were really pleasing to a teleologist!

Unfortunately, Kant also believed that anything other than Unfortunately, Kant also believed that anything other than an “expectation imperative” made an action immoralan “expectation imperative” made an action immoral

Therefore, if you run around the track because your coach Therefore, if you run around the track because your coach expects you to go run around the track, you’ve acted expects you to go run around the track, you’ve acted morally – but if you ran just because you wanted to enjoy it, morally – but if you ran just because you wanted to enjoy it, you’ve compromised your morals because it’s not your duty you’ve compromised your morals because it’s not your duty to have fun!to have fun!

Talk about relative values – we were confused about Talk about relative values – we were confused about whether Death Cab for Cutie or “One Tree Hill” could be whether Death Cab for Cutie or “One Tree Hill” could be good, and now Kant wants us to look at ourselves completely good, and now Kant wants us to look at ourselves completely differently!differently!

Do you prefer Kant’s system, or Aristotle’s?Do you prefer Kant’s system, or Aristotle’s?

Becoming Worthy of Becoming Worthy of HappinessHappiness

Many resist deontology specifically because it seems to Many resist deontology specifically because it seems to deem happiness as unhealthy – whereas teleology views deem happiness as unhealthy – whereas teleology views it as the natural outgrowth of meeting one’s own it as the natural outgrowth of meeting one’s own expectationsexpectations

In this case, the pursuit of happiness is incredibly In this case, the pursuit of happiness is incredibly important – rather than making our morals determine important – rather than making our morals determine our level of satisfaction, we switch the relationship our level of satisfaction, we switch the relationship aroundaround

If you notice this, it’s easy to see how humans can If you notice this, it’s easy to see how humans can become worthy of happiness in their own eyes – just become worthy of happiness in their own eyes – just adjust your morals, and your goals will adjust as welladjust your morals, and your goals will adjust as well

It’s the reason why people can be satisfied while It’s the reason why people can be satisfied while underachieving – they’ve changed their morals to the underachieving – they’ve changed their morals to the point that true excellence no longer matterspoint that true excellence no longer matters

Are they worthy of happiness? Is Are they worthy of happiness? Is everyoneeveryone worthy of it worthy of it (which would mean Kant was wrong), or should we be (which would mean Kant was wrong), or should we be doing something in order to deserve our good fortune doing something in order to deserve our good fortune (karma, caution, compassion, etc.)?(karma, caution, compassion, etc.)?

The Pursuit of HappinessThe Pursuit of Happiness Moving forward, we’ve covered the highs and lows of Moving forward, we’ve covered the highs and lows of

deontological and teleological approaches to morality deontological and teleological approaches to morality and happiness.and happiness.

Is there more to happiness than the simple fulfillment Is there more to happiness than the simple fulfillment of moral imperatives – which seem to be the basis of of moral imperatives – which seem to be the basis of both systems?both systems?

Let’s contrast what made you happy when you were Let’s contrast what made you happy when you were five versus what makes you happy nowfive versus what makes you happy now

For example, are you more concerned with the well-For example, are you more concerned with the well-being of others now that you’re older?being of others now that you’re older?

How have you changed? Is it all a matter of more How have you changed? Is it all a matter of more complicated goals? Perhaps self-awareness?complicated goals? Perhaps self-awareness?

The Pursuit of Happiness The Pursuit of Happiness (Continued)(Continued)

Was it easier to be happier when you were younger?Was it easier to be happier when you were younger? Which happiness is “better” – your mature version or Which happiness is “better” – your mature version or

your prior one?your prior one? When did you think more about your own happiness – When did you think more about your own happiness –

then, or now?then, or now? What do you intend to get out of each day?What do you intend to get out of each day?

If you have no intentions, how can you have goals?If you have no intentions, how can you have goals? If you have no goals, Aristotle doesn’t believe you can be truly If you have no goals, Aristotle doesn’t believe you can be truly

happyhappy You can be pleasantly surprised – but is a life spent waiting for You can be pleasantly surprised – but is a life spent waiting for

intermittent pleasant surprises worth living?intermittent pleasant surprises worth living?

Back to Choice and MoralityBack to Choice and Morality True happiness seems to result from effort – the satisfaction True happiness seems to result from effort – the satisfaction

that’s earned is better than the satisfaction that’s handed outthat’s earned is better than the satisfaction that’s handed out In other words, it’s better to be the arrow than the leafIn other words, it’s better to be the arrow than the leaf

After all, the vast majority of you decided that it was After all, the vast majority of you decided that it was important to make your own moral code – and to make your important to make your own moral code – and to make your own decisions rather than allow someone to control you, even own decisions rather than allow someone to control you, even if that control led you down a comfortable pathif that control led you down a comfortable path

In this way, choice, morality, and happiness seem interrelatedIn this way, choice, morality, and happiness seem interrelated If we have free will, we can decide how to interpret our experiencesIf we have free will, we can decide how to interpret our experiences We can allow those interpretations to shape our moralsWe can allow those interpretations to shape our morals Our morals, in turn, shape our future choicesOur morals, in turn, shape our future choices By shaping our choices, our morals shape our goals – and our goals By shaping our choices, our morals shape our goals – and our goals

shape our happiness!shape our happiness!

Is It All That Simple?Is It All That Simple? Well, not necessarilyWell, not necessarily

We may not have free willWe may not have free will We do things that violate our morals or our ethics; sometimes we attempt to We do things that violate our morals or our ethics; sometimes we attempt to

rationalize these actions, while at other times we don’t even tryrationalize these actions, while at other times we don’t even try We can go through life passively, drifting leaf-like from day to day without We can go through life passively, drifting leaf-like from day to day without

even noticing the passing of time – or that we’re not growingeven noticing the passing of time – or that we’re not growing We make the choices that ordinarily bring us happiness harder; by We make the choices that ordinarily bring us happiness harder; by

procrastinating, for example, we stain the “fun things” we do in the procrastinating, for example, we stain the “fun things” we do in the meantime with a hidden dread, a knowledge that everything gets worse meantime with a hidden dread, a knowledge that everything gets worse when this experience ends. when this experience ends.

This ensures that we won’t have as much fun as we should be having!This ensures that we won’t have as much fun as we should be having! If happiness is such an important human concern – and if great minds If happiness is such an important human concern – and if great minds

seem to have devised ways to find it – why do we still sabotage seem to have devised ways to find it – why do we still sabotage ourselves?ourselves?

In this case, we can blame our ability to choose incorrectly – the free will In this case, we can blame our ability to choose incorrectly – the free will to make a bad decisionto make a bad decision

This is a choice that, judging by our discussions, you treasure – so this is OK!This is a choice that, judging by our discussions, you treasure – so this is OK! In short, we may love pursuing happiness successfully – but we seem to In short, we may love pursuing happiness successfully – but we seem to

love our ability to be disappointed almost as much, because that love our ability to be disappointed almost as much, because that disappointment both seems to validate our free will and to make our disappointment both seems to validate our free will and to make our successes all the sweeter.successes all the sweeter.

““You need to know bruises to know blessings, and I have known both.”You need to know bruises to know blessings, and I have known both.”

The Writing The Writing AssignmentAssignment Yesterday, you discussed morality.Yesterday, you discussed morality.

Today, I’d like you to articulate your Today, I’d like you to articulate your personal philosophy regarding happiness personal philosophy regarding happiness – what it’s worth, how you can find/earn – what it’s worth, how you can find/earn it, etc.it, etc.

Remember, this is an ongoing assignment Remember, this is an ongoing assignment with an open timeframe; at the end of the with an open timeframe; at the end of the unit, the body of these writings will allow unit, the body of these writings will allow you to form your personal statement of you to form your personal statement of philosophy – the unit’s “end product.”philosophy – the unit’s “end product.”

You may work until the end of the period.You may work until the end of the period.