Developing Your Own Approach to Happiness:

The Epistle on Happiness

A. Instructions:

The aim of this project is to aid you in clarifying your own thoughts on happiness in light of what we have discussed in class by having you write a letter to someone else explaining your views on this subject. Ideally the person with whom your are corresponding should be younger, or at least more impressionable, than you are (e.g., a younger sibling, child, friend, etc.), since your letter will be taking the form of a moral epistle—that is, an exhortation to a specific way of life that you espouse. If you can’t think of anyone in particular to write to, feel free to address your letter to Sophia, an imaginary 16 year old girl who looks up to you as an intellectual role model.

B. Components:

1. Opening paragraph: Greet the person to whom you are writing and state the purpose of this letter [e.g., why do you feel that it is so important for you to share your understanding of happiness with him/her?]. (1-2 par)

2. Wrong Approaches: Describe two fallacious approaches to happiness that you think are a potential danger to the person with whom you are corresponding. Explain why you think that these approaches are wrong. The approaches that you critique in this section can either be ones that we have discussed in class or ones that you have observed in society at large. (2 par)

3. Your Approach: Describe what you think the optimal approach to happiness is based upon your life experience and 14+ years of education [you may want to reflect upon what your supreme good is—that is, that good which leads to happiness—and the role that worldly goods, virtue, luck, fate, religion, spirituality, creativity, pleasure, etc., may or may not play in your system]. Be sure to explain your position thoroughly and coherently, giving cogent arguments to back up your views. You will certainly want to quote authorities who support your views, so go find a book of famous quotes to help you [e.g., Bartletts]. (2-3 par)

4.  Examples: Give examples from your own life, history, literature or film to support your position. (1-2 par)

5.  Significance: Explain how your approach can help your correspondent to find happiness in a world filled with suffering, adversity and death. (1-2 par)

6.  Closing paragraph: This is your last chance to persuade your correspondent that your approach to happiness is worth following, so try to close in a dramatic—or at least an interesting— way. (1 par)

C. Recommendations:

1. Check out some of Seneca’s moral epistles for examples of how to write this epistle and suggestions on possible topics.

2. I want you to be as creative as possible in writing this letter. You do not have to slavishly follow my outline as long as you hit the main points in your letter.

3. Try to be provocative in your approach. If you surprise me that is a very good thing.

4. Because this is a creative writing exercise, you should put a greater emphasis on your writing style than you might otherwise for a typical philosophy paper. I would therefore advise you to make an appointment to consult with the good folks at our writing lab before you submit this epistle.

The epistle should be typed single space, in a 12 point TNR font with 1 inch margins. Please include a cover page with your name, the name of the class and the date of submission.

D. Points will be deducted for...

• Failure to follow the instructions clearly stated above.
• Submission of paper after due date (-3 points per day late).
• Numerous grammatical, spelling or typographical errors.
• Lack of thoroughness and/or clarity.