Conclusion

Assessing the Alternatives

Congratulations, you have finally made it to the end of this course. You may not realize it, but we have actually discussed 11 different approaches to happiness during the past few months. In case you have already forgotten some of them, here they are once again:

A. Flawed Approaches:

1. Fatalism

2. (Cynenaic) Hedonism

3. Immoralism

B. Classical Approaches

4. Socratic Rational

5. Platonic Idealism

6. Aristotelian Realism

C. Approaches from Late Antiquity

7. Skepticism

8. Cynicism

9. Epicureanism

10. Stoicism

D. The Christian Approach

11. Augustinian Ethics

In light of the 11 philosophical approaches that we discussed in class, kindly reflect upon the following:

1. Which of these approaches to happiness, if any, did you ultimately come to find the most satisfying and why?

2. Did you think that any of the above approaches were completely wrong (i.e., they could never lead one to happiness)? If so, which ones and why?

3. Were there any concepts that we discussed in class that you think might be useful in your own quest for happiness? If so, what were they?

We have also discussed several important philosophical questions related to the problem of happiness. By now you should have some idea of where you stand on some of these issues (if you don't, you probably should just crawl back into your cave and give up all hopes of ever becoming happy):

1. Is it possible to attain happiness if the world is governed by Fate (moira)?

2. How can Divine Foreknowledge be reconciled with human freedom in our quest for happiness?

3. What role does luck (tykhe) play in human happiness?

4. What is the role of pleasure (hedone) in human happiness?

5. Is it possible to attain happiness if one is morally wicked or vicious? Or is virtue absolutely necessary for happiness?

6. What role does philosophical inquiry (the Socratic elenchus) play in the attainment of happiness? Can those who are incapable of engaging in philosophical inquiry still attain some degree of happiness?

7. Do you think that it is true that no real harm can befall a good person?

8. Do you think that are happiness as human beings demands that we make some efforts to transcend the purely sensible realm (e.g., the material world)? Or do you think that are happiness is to be found primarily within the sensible realm?

9. Is it still possible to become truly happy in a life filled with suffering, pain, sickness and death?

10. Can reflecting upon the inevitability of one's own death actually help a person in his/her quest for happiness?

11. What role, if any, do external goods (health, wealth, fame, family, friends, etc) play in the attainment of happiness?

12. Do you think that the possession of virtues such as courage, temperance, generosity, pride, and good temper would necessarily contribute to one's happiness?

13. Would developing a more skeptical attitude towards life aid in one's quest for happiness?

14. Would developing a more cynical attitude towards life aid in one's quest for happiness?

15. If a person made an effort to radically simplify his life (i.e., to eliminate many unnecessary/frivolous desires) would that person have a better chance of becoming happy in life?

16. Would developing an attitude of indifference towards external goods aid one in the attainment of happiness?

17. To what extent is some kind of relationship with God necessary for happiness?

18. To what extent is the attainment of happiness truly within our own control? Do you think that one can sincerely desire to be happy and know the right way to become happy, but remain miserable nonetheless?

19. If there really is a God and our ultimate happiness is to be found with him in the next life, what should our attitude be towards this life?

Despite what you may believe, the ultimate aim of this course is not simply to understand what other people have said about happiness but to try to think though your own approach to happiness.

In three sentences or less, summarize your own philosophical perspective on happiness:

HAPPINESS IS....