Human Flourishing and Happiness Concepts

Study Notes

Identify different conceptions of human flourishing.
Critique human flourishing in relation to scientific and technological progress.
Define personal meanings of a good life.

Happiness is a mental or emotional state characterized by well-being, encompassing positive emotions from contentment to joy.
Behaviorists view happiness as the result of positive actions and emotions.
Neurologists associate happiness with the release of hormones in the brain that reward behaviors linked to survival.

Happiness, from a hedonistic perspective, is seen as the absence of pain, where life’s purpose is to maximize happiness and minimize suffering.

Eudaimonia combines the concepts of "good" and "spirit," defining happiness as the pursuit of becoming a better person.
Eudaimonists strive for personal growth through intellectual challenges and meaningful activities.
Associated with Aristotle, eudaimonia represents the pinnacle of happiness, attainable through virtuous living.

Nicomachean Ethics: Philosophical exploration of the good life.
Key elements in ancient Greek society believed to bring happiness:
- Phronesis (practical wisdom)
- Friends
- Wealth
- Power

Modern humans pursue comfort, exploration, product development, and wealth accumulation.
Today's societal expectation is to be globally engaged, collaborating with institutions and governments towards common goals.

Eastern Conception:
- Community-centric focus where individual sacrifice for the collective good is valued.
- Influenced by systems like Confucianism in China and the Bushido code in Japan.
- Emphasizes the importance of literature, sciences, and arts for societal benefit.
Western Conception:
- Individual-centered approach, viewing human flourishing as an end goal.
- Rooted in Aristotelian philosophy, aiming for eudaimonia as the ultimate aspiration.