The Nature and Value of HappinessThe Nature and Value of Happiness provides a historic and contemporary overview of the philosophy of happiness, with critical evaluations to help students analyze the material and trace the evolution of a deeply nuanced concept. Addressing how the modern notion of happiness has changed from its ancient origins, Christine Vitrano attempts to clarify the precise value of happiness. This search leads Vitrano to examine topics such as the moral requirements of happiness and whether happiness can be considered the greatest good or simply one good among many. The philosophical theories are presented in a way that is accessible to anyone interested in learning about happiness, regardless of previous philosophical study. All technical terms and concepts are clearly explained, and illustrative examples tied into the text bring the material to life and help establish the relevance of the subject to readers. The ultimate goal is to reach a definition of the nature of happiness that best reflects the way we use the word today. This book is a welcome addition to the growing literature on happiness and is ideal for initiating provocative discussions in courses on happiness and ethics. |
Contents
What Is Pleasure? | 13 |
Happiness as Virtue Plato and the Stoics | 33 |
Stoic Happiness | 47 |
Is Virtue Necessary for Happiness? | 63 |
Third Formulation | 76 |
Second Formulation | 92 |
Happiness as Life Satisfaction | 103 |
Is Life Satisfaction Arbitrary? | 117 |
The Pursuit of Happiness | 131 |
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Common terms and phrases
According achieving happiness actually ancient ethicists argues Aristotle Aristotle’s view attitude attitudinal behavior believe Belliotti Brandt cause chapter concept of happiness consider contemporary Daniel Kahneman deny the happiness desires eating emotions enjoy Epictetus Epicurus ethical hedonism evaluative example experience machine experience of pleasure explains feeling happy Fred Fred’s happiness Glaucon goals happiness with virtue Haybron hedonist about happiness human Ibid identifies happiness immoral immoralist important intrinsically involve Irwin J. J. C. Smart Kekes Kleinig Kraut L. W. Sumner life-satisfaction view mental defective nature of happiness necessary for happiness Nicomachean Ethics normative theorists Nozick objection one’s Oxford University Press pain perfectly unjust person’s happiness philosophers piness Plato plug problem psychological hedonism question rational reason Richard Brandt Robert Nozick satisfied simple satisfaction view soul standards Stoics suggests Terence Irwin theory of happiness things unhappiness view of happiness views happiness virtuous person Wladyslaw Tatarkiewicz York