Friday, April 28, 2006
...the Pursuit of Happiness
The above may be one of the most misunderstood concepts in America Liberty
Happiness as a psychological state is transient. One moment you’re happy, the next moment you’re not. Also, different things make different people happy. Our founding fathers, arguably the greatest intellects in the past five hundred years, were far too smart to declare a universal right to one psychological state over any other. What about the right to be sad, to love or hate, be angry or pleased, etc.? Aren’t they equally important?
No, our founding fathers were referring to happiness as an ethical state. As an ethical state happiness is a life long journey that can only be judged at the end of ones life. That is why they used the construct the Pursuit of Happiness instead of just saying Happiness.
As a psychological state, happiness is about how you feel. As an ethical state, happiness is about how you live. In a conversation with some students atStuyvesant High School New York City
For an expanded examination of this subject, I recommend the book, Ten Philosophical Mistakes, by philosopher Mortimer J. Adler. He devotes all of Chapter 6, Happiness and Contentment, to a discussion of the two states where he defines ethical happiness as a morally good life.
No, our founding fathers were referring to happiness as an ethical state. As an ethical state happiness is a life long journey that can only be judged at the end of ones life. That is why they used the construct the Pursuit of Happiness instead of just saying Happiness.
As a psychological state, happiness is about how you feel. As an ethical state, happiness is about how you live. In a conversation with some students at
For an expanded examination of this subject, I recommend the book, Ten Philosophical Mistakes, by philosopher Mortimer J. Adler. He devotes all of Chapter 6, Happiness and Contentment, to a discussion of the two states where he defines ethical happiness as a morally good life.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
The problem with some people is not that they cannot understand complicated things. The problem is that they refuse to accept simple inescapable realities that go against their fantasies.
Thomas Sowell
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