Lesson 11 On Happiness PDF

# LESSON 11 ## ON HAPPINESS ### Learning Objectives: - Discuss philosophical views regarding happiness and a happy life - Identify the factors that define a happy life - Use the elements of happiness to evaluate their own personal happiness - Discuss ways that will enable them to improve the quali...

# LESSON 11 ## ON HAPPINESS ### Learning Objectives: - Discuss philosophical views regarding happiness and a happy life - Identify the factors that define a happy life - Use the elements of happiness to evaluate their own personal happiness - Discuss ways that will enable them to improve the quality of their lives - Engage in concrete action that will foster happiness in other people ## What does it mean to be HAPPY? - Happiness can be defined in two ways: - it can be interpreted as a state of mind, where an individual maintains a positive and happy outlook despite his or her situation - it can be an evaluation of one's experience in life - Eudaimonia (good spirit) refers to a person's state of well-being or happiness. ## The different views on HAPPINESS - For Greeks, happiness is something to be achieved and a good life is a happy life. - Plato equates happiness with living a moral life, practicing virtues, fulfilling personal and political duties, and controlling one's desires. - For Aristotle, happiness is the primary reason for human action, and one becomes happy through the practice of virtues and the accumulation of achievements toward excellence. - For Epicurus, happiness means a life of peace that is free from fear and discomfort. - Religious philosophers such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas define happiness as union with God. ## Utilitarianism - States that a person's actions are considered moral or desirable when they produce the greatest happiness for other people ## 3 Distinct Elements of Happiness 1. Contentment - Satisfaction with one's life. 2. Welfare - Satisfaction of a person's wants and desires. 3. Dignity - Defined as the ability to control and define one's own destiny and the freedom to live a life of one's choosing. ## How one can live a happy life? For Eastern philosophers, happiness is not achieved through abstract notions but rather through practical ways. ### The Noble Eightfold Path to attain good life based on Buddhism's teaching - **Right Faith**: One must understand that life comes from suffering. This suffering, however, has a cause. There is also an end to suffering and a way or means to end it. - **Right Thought**: One must be free from lust, cruelty, and ill intent. - **Right Speech**: One must abstain from lies, slander, and harsh and - **Right Action**: One must not kill, steal, engage in immoral and sexual behavior, and take intoxicating drugs and drinks. - **Right Livelihood**: One must choose the right livelihood and avoid occupation such as slave trading, arms dealing, and prostitution. - **Right Effort**: One must have the right enthusiasm and attitude to avoid misconduct and maintain harmonious relations with others. - **Right Mindfulness**: One must be attentive to the world and the things in it. - **Right Concentration**: One must not have a distracted and cluttered mind.