Abstract This paper analyzes John Stuart Mill's concept of the pursuit of happiness. It also discusses what is meant by happiness and what justifies regarding it as the goal either of a political system, or of a system of ethical philosophy.
From the Paper "The phrase life liberty and the pursuit of happiness enshrined in the founding documents of the United States was derived from John Locke. Locke's formulation however was life liberty and property. In choosing the ..."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the notion and emotion of happiness. Firstly, the writer presents a definition of happiness. The writer explains that happiness is a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy or emotions experienced in a state of well being. The writer points out that happiness comes from within a person and can be seen in people who are satisfied with life. Further, the writer notes that happiness comes from finding answers to life and knowing that life is satisfying.
From the Paper "What is happiness? How does a person determine whether he or she is happy? Often people confuse joy with happiness, but they are not the same. Joy is fleeting moments of happiness, while happiness is long lasting. A person winning a lottery is overwhelmed with joy, but it may not bring happiness. An elderly woman with five children and twenty grandchildren is happy because she knows she is loved. Happiness can be defined as an emotion similar to being sad, mad, angry, frustrated, joy, love, etc."
Abstract This paper examines Aristotle's philosophies, especially those about happiness and compares these to Forrest Gump, the character of the movie. The simple pleasures in life is what makes Forrest happy and this ties in to Aristotle's views.
From the Paper "Aristotle believes that goodness is accompanied by kindness, generosity, hopefulness, and also such traits as love of friends and fellow men, and love of what is noble. Forrest Gump was not a smart man by any means, but ignorant people often make better choices than more knowledgeable people. It does not take intelligence to do good. To constitute true happiness, good actions must persist with continuity throughout a lifetime. A person is defined as "good" if his behavior is in accordance with what human nature was designed for. Happiness consists in fulfilling this function excellently. Even though Forrest Gump is handicapped, this does not stop him from displaying virtue, courage in danger, love for others, and generosity."
Abstract This paper deals with what Aristotle termed as man's "highest good"--happiness--and to what extent happiness depends on material factors like fame and fortune.
From the Paper "In book one of Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle muses over what he terms as ?The Highest Good,? happiness. He wonders about what it means to be happy and to what extent happiness is dependent on factors such as fate and fortune. One of the questions he raises along this line of inquiry has to do with the Greek saying, ?Count no man happy until he [is] dead.? He begins to deal with this question in section 1.82 of Irwin's translation. He first takes the Greek saying quite seriously, asking the reader if it is possible for someone to be happy after they die. Quickly, he points out that this interpretation is absurd?after all, if happiness is an activity, how can someone who is dead take part in it (1100a14)"
Abstract In this paper, the writer studies the relationship between happiness and money. The writer discusses different interpretations of happiness. The writer concludes that the relationship between these two aspects is not as straightforward as sometimes believed.
From the Paper "Happiness, Aristotle argues, is the one thing sought for itself and for which everything else is done. Everyone seems to agree on this even if their reasons for doing so might vary. The problem then becomes how to explain what this happiness means, for as he points out different people have different interpretations of happiness, based on their own understanding of it. Some men of the most vulgar type argue that happiness is pleasure others of superior refinement and of active disposition ... "
Abstract This paper discusses the question "is there a necessary connection between 'being good' and being happy?" which might at first glance look fairly straightforward. However, in order to grasp the complexity of it, each of the important words in this sentence needs to be examined, i.e. Necessary, good, and happy. The paper shows that this is anything but a straightforward question and consequently, a simple answer is not possible. However, on balance, it argues that the answer to this question is no. The word "necessary" means essential or requisite.
Abstract This paper addresses how Plato and Aristotle, although from similar traditions, differed in their perceptions of happiness. The comparison is done by addressing Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics" and Plato's "The Republic".
Abstract This paper looks at Alison Baker's "Happy Hour" as an evocation of the absurdity of the human condition. It discusses Baker's use of irony and the story's focus on end- of -life family dynamics in an institutional setting.
From the Paper "Reinforced by a context of narrative irony, Happy Hour presents numerous closely observed details about end-of-life family dynamics in an institutional setting. The irony is not laden with humor or smugness rather taking on attributes of an absurdity ..."
Abstract This paper analyzes and reviews "Happy Endings," a short story by Margaret Atwood about a couple named John and Mary. Atwood presents six succinct scenes, centralized around the couple, and illustrates possible avenues their relationship may undergo. The reviewer notes Atwood's feminist perspective in this work, and Atwood's cynical and satirical tone. The writer sees Atwood as using cynicism to convey her belief in the nonexistence of fairy tale endings.
From the Paper "Atwood's cynical attitude about the insignificance of life is evident in the third story when she explains the reason John purchased a handgun is "the thin part of the plot and can be explained later" (219). Atwood does not place impact on the events leading to death. Instead she concentrates on the "happy ending" itself, for all that matters is that the ill-fated lovers do die, it does not matter how. This reinforces Atwood's notion that life is simply a means to the "happy" end."
Abstract The paper critically reviews the film "The Pursuit of Happiness," which is about an African-American man who attains success after enduring poverty and even homelessness. The paper highlights the stereotypical, negative portrayals of race in this movie and shows how the main ideological message of the film is that success equals money, which is the 'American dream' that claims to ultimately bring happiness.
From the Paper "Pursuit of Happiness is about a lower middle-class African-American man and his family. During an economic recession the family falls on hard times, having spent on their savings in the man's sales business. He sells medical equipment and things are not going so well. His wife works double shifts, he owes taxes to the government and has a bunch of unpaid parking tickets. Their son goes to a private, probably illegal, cheap daycare. One day he sees a man coming out of a red sports car. Impressed with the car and the man he asks him what he does for a living a finds out that the man is a stockbroker. He decides then and there that he too wants to be a stockbroker."
Abstract The paper describes all the ills present in modern society and shows how high-technology can be used to right these problems. The paper continues by discussing how, despite the use of technology, society continues to be plagued by poverty and unhappiness. The paper then describes the world in Huxley's book "Brave New World" where technology has rearranged the world and men. The paper analyzes the book with the premise that technology exists to serve and help achieve the purpose of man, not to frustrate or replace it. The paper shows how the citizens of Huxley's New World are programmed to seek false happiness by searching for objectives and personal truths which make life meaningful. The paper concludes that personal responsibility and accountability is the only real solution to the world's ills.
From the Paper "In the New World, the conscience is stifled from birth, and should it show up in the form of unpleasant feelings of anxiety when a citizen breaks one of the universal laws pre-written in him, the soma is available to dull or stifle that moral twang or uneasiness in an instant. The erring person can feel "good" and moral within himself again. The soma is the New World's approach to the pain of conscience, not to the issue that brings pain to the conscience, and hence the sedation is as false as the entire principle of this New World."
Abstract In this article, the writer takes the reader on an exploratory journey in which pursuit problems are examined. The writer discusses the controversy surrounding the issue of police pursuits. The writer then argues that it is time for agencies to eliminate all but the extremely necessary pursuits. The writer concludes that while society supports the idea of police pursuits in the case of serious offenders, it wants public safety to be first and foremost in the decision-making process about who to chase. Further, the writer points out that as the nation moves into the future, it will become even more important to use available technology for the purpose of reducing police pursuits and instead using different methods to apprehend suspects.
Outline:
Introduction
What the Research Indicates
Possible Resolutions
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Because of the critical problems that police pursuits currently pose it is vital that police department officials design and implement standardized protocol when it comes to police pursuits.
Each policy must balance the need to apprehend suspects and offenders with the safety importance of society. Police are often left with the decision to pursue or not to pursue. The decision may center on how potentially violent or dangerous the suspect is at the time of the pursuit question.
Some who went on a shooting rampage in a grocery store needs to be pursued before he choose another target location, but the teenager who was seen with a beer in the vehicle may not be worth the consequences that can result from a police pursuit. It is a case by case decision that must be guided by protocol that all members of law enforcement abide by."
Abstract This paper examines topics and issues related to high speed pursuits as part of law enforcement. The paper defines the relevant terms and then provides past and current statistics related to these chases. It also discusses policies and the risks that are involved with pursuits. Finally, the paper discusses the alternative solutions to high speed pursuits. The paper contains an annotated bibliography.
From the Paper "What the public thinks about pursuits plays an important role in defining policy and procedure. While most of the public supports the officer apprehending a dangerous suspect through a pursuit, that support quickly drops as the crime becomes less serious. One study found that 58% of people interviewed believed pursuits were a necessary part of arresting suspects, the statistic drops to 29% when the element of innocent people possibly getting hurt is mentioned. Further, 64% of those interviewed said that police overreact very often when they do pursue suspects who don't stop. Another study found that more than 80% of respondents approved of pursuing a violent felon, even under high-risk conditions. This same study found that with a low-risk suspect, the number of respondents supporting a pursuit fell to 20%. Even those who support pursuits acknowledge that very few people who flee the police have committed serious crimes (Hill, p. 18)."
Abstract In this article, the writer looks at the book of Ecclesiastes that is believed to have been written by Solomon and contains various pursuits that Solomon reports giving himself over to and relates the lessons that he learned while in the midst of these pursuits. The writer points out that King Solomon is said to have been the wisest man who ever lived however and maintains that this cannot be accredited to his having lived a blameless life but instead may be accredited to the many lessons learned by Solomon, which culminated in great wisdom. The writer discusses that the wisdom of Solomon can be easily understood to have been gained through trial and error and through the process of honest and candid reflection, upon not only his life, but the lives of those around him as he witnessed the futile pursuits of himself and others.
From the Paper " Ecclesiastes reports the reflection of Solomon on life and how man, in his few and numbered years on the earth, really accomplishes nothing that is lasting. Man is born and spends the first years of his life in education and learning and once this has been completed, spends the rest of his years working. Regardless of the accomplishments, or alternatively, the lack of accomplishments on the part of a man, the grave still claims that man and all that is left are his children who follow the same path and irregardless of their accomplishments are then too, lowered into a grave in the earth. The reflections of Solomon are in reality Solomon's search for meaning which may be applied to man's existence. Solomon had 300 wives and 700 concubines as well as vast wealth and knowledge and great respect of those around him and yet, even all this, Solomon learned was not enough to gratify the heart and the soul of man."
Abstract In this article, the essence of "perfect happiness" is explored thoroughly from the perspective of St. Aquinas and the 'Suma Theologiae' (speculative theology). The writer notes that perfect happiness is almost metamorphically redefined throughout the entire discussion. The introduction echoes a link between perfect happiness and material things or persons. The writer discusses that this type of happiness can be observed as a form of happiness, however Aquinas would argue that such happiness is synthetic. The essence of perfect happiness is what Aquinas urges the faithfully Christian to seek. The writer points out that according to Aquinas, God is the essence of happiness and therefore total contemplation of God can only birth perfect happiness. To attain perfect happiness there are vital stipulations. Nevertheless, God has given us grace, which works with the intellect and strengthens our capacity for natural to supernatural. The writer concludes that in the end, the attainment of perfect happiness is available.
From the Paper "Behind the veil there is a greater work at play, in particular the role of grace and the attainment of perfect happiness. Perfect happiness occurs when one contemplates God totally. When contemplating God, one begins to see God for what God really is, thereby experiencing authentic happiness. Aquinas begins by presenting a counter argument concerning human limitations. The senses are limited to the material world. God is not of the material world, but of a world that transcends the material world. If this is the case, happiness is unattainable to the human being. The distinction here rests between the human's natural ends and supernatural ends. In addition, the objection to the attainment of happiness conveys the humans' natural ends."
