The, The Sensation Of Happiness Essay - 1851 Words

Kraut’s Objections to Happiness The sensation of happiness is something that has undeniably been argued about for many years by a wide range of philosophical individuals. Questions about the true meaning of being happy are very common, as there are many different viewpoints that have very different opinions on the matter. A well respected analytical philosopher, Richard Kraut, attempted to differentiate a few of these viewpoints, as well as his own standpoint in comparison with Aristotle, who had his own definition of happiness. Aristotle defined happiness in his Nicomachean Ethics as â€Å"eudaimon†, which has roughly been translated as â€Å"human flourishing†. The term does not directly mean happiness, rather, he implored that the term differentiates between the notion of feeling happy, and the act of leading a happy life. Aristotle argued that these happy feelings only pertain to one’s internal identity and are only experienced by that particular individual. Leading a happy life is also exp erienced internally, but it is subject to external criticism, thus giving meaning to a similar, yet different idea. One may argue that a person’s life is full of happiness and joy because they have experienced these emotions, while another, who may have witnessed a large portion of their life, might say they have not had a happy life, despite some of the happy instances had by the person. According to Aristotle, everyone lives for a certain goal of happiness through self-accomplishment andShow MoreRelatedThe Spiritual Experience Of Living Every Moment With Love1400 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, or won. It is the spiritual experience of living every moment with love, grace gratitude.† –Denis Waitley What is happiness? People have agonized over this question for centuries, but only recently has science begun to measure in on the debate. Over the centuries a variety of biological, psychological, religious and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources, but happy/ happiness is one emotion that couldRead MoreThe Abstract Of Figurative Language Essay1674 Words   |  7 Pagesinternal representation of a happy cognitive state I perceive happiness I understand that the word â€Å"happy† represents a happiness. As it can be seen this process seems a bit lengthy, takes a lot of explicit intentionality, and is heavily cognitive centered. The understanding of the word â€Å"happiness† solely comes from the internal representation of it within the mind. And under modern theory, the â€Å"self’s interpretation of the word â€Å"happiness† is reliant only on the â€Å"self,† not the body or its environmentRead MorePositive Psychology Can Not Make Us Happier887 Words   |  4 Pagestheir own happiness without the aid of external influences has been raised and researched. However, the answer to the question is unclear. Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that supports the theory that an individual’s happiness is under their personal control, independent of any external influences or validation. Consequently, researchers have uncovered evidence that provides mixed results regarding the effectiveness of positive psychology in increasing individual hap piness. For instanceRead MoreAristotles Teachings Essay examples799 Words   |  4 Pagesan ability to play back a recording of a previous sensation. If we were to imagine an object, for example a vase, we are simply playing back a previous recording of an actual sensation, or a mixture of more than one sensation, such as that of our eyes actually previously seeing a vase. So in our mind an imagination or dream is not different from seeing, smelling, hearing, or feeling an actual object, because we are simply replaying a real sensation. In his teachings, the nature of life canRead MoreEpicurus And John Stuart Mill967 Words   |  4 Pagesa good, fulfilling life. They all included the concepts of pleasure and happiness to some extent in their theories, but they all approached the ideas in different ways. The two hedonists we studied, Epicurus and John Stuart Mill, place heavy emphasis on the importance of pleasure. They both believe that pleasure is a necessity in the ideal life. Jean Kazez agreed with their viewpoints in her theory and said that happiness was a necessity for a good life. Epicurus and Mill also argue that thereRead MoreDiscussion of Utilitarianism Essay examples830 Words   |  4 Pagespropinquity nearness of time of the pleasure and pain to the act. Finally, there are consequential characteristics of pain and pleasure and they are, fecundity: probability that the sensation will be followed by another sensation, impurity: probability that the sensation will be followed by another sensation of the opposite kind, extent: the # of persons affected by the act. Bentham’s utility principle is saying that the sadistic voyeur should open the curtain. If he opens theRead MorePsychological Egoism765 Words   |  4 Pagesmind†, it would be difficult to explain how he could have derived pleasure from helping them. â€Å"The very fact that he did feel satisfaction as a result of helping the pigs presupposes that he had a preexisting desire for something other than his own happiness. Then when that desire was satisfied, Lincoln of course derived pleasure. The object of Lincoln’s desire was not pleasure; rather pleasure was the consequence of his preexisting desire for something else† (p 430). In statement (c), the egoistsRead MoreThe Buddhas Four Noble Truths: a Logical Basis for Philosophy1688 Words   |  7 Pagesaggregates. These include rupa (matter), vedana (sensations), sanna (perceptions), samkhara (mental formations), and vijnana (consciousness). The aggregate of matter encompasses all tangible aspects of the world. The aggregate of sensations is akin to the process of sensory input; e.g., the activation of retinal cells in the eye. Vedana does not include the process of perception, however; the act of perceiving the senses, i.e., recognition of external sensations, is within the realm of the sanna. BuddhaRead More The Buddhas Four Noble Truths: A Logical Basis For Philosophy1651 Words   |  7 Pagesaggregates. These include rupa (matter), vedana (sensations), sanna (perceptions), samkhara (mental formations), and vijnana (consciousness). The aggregate of matter encompasses all tangible aspects of the world. The aggregate of sensations is akin to the process of sensory input; e.g., the activation of retinal cells in the eye. Vedana does not include the process of perception, however; the act of perceiving the senses, i.e., recognition of external sensations, is within the realm of the sanna. BuddhaRead MoreLife, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness902 Words   |  4 PagesAs a citizen of the United States, you are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is a VIRTUE that everyone embarks on; however, what if you were told you were doing it wrong? Aristotle begins his STORY stating that â€Å"EVERY art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.† He goes on to say then, because these ends at which we aim are only