Title: Happiness is overrated /
Authors: Belliotti, Raymond A., 1948-
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers,
Year: 2004
Subjects: Happiness; Conduct of life.
Abstract: Argues that happiness is not the greatest personal good, or even a great good in itself. In fact, sometimes happiness isn't a good at all. If we pursue worthwhile, exemplary lives and find happiness along the way, then we are lucky. If we don't, then we can take pride and derive satisfaction from a life well lived. Ultimately, the greatest personal good is realized in leading a robustly meaningful, valuable life. [publisher web site].
Contents: I: Greek, Roman, and Christian happiness -- 1. Happiness as moral and intellectual virtue -- 2. Happiness as flourishing -- 3. Happiness as radical asceticism -- 4. Happiness a hedonism -- 5. Happiness as tranquility -- 6. Happiness as worldly transcendence -- II: Happiness reconceived -- 1. Happiness as morally earned -- 2. Happiness as collective achievement -- 3. Happiness as the greatest good for the greatest number -- 4. Happiness as illusion -- 5. Happiness as positive psychological state -- III: Contemporary philosophical views -- 1. Philosophy joins hands with social science -- 2. Happiness as positive self-appraisal -- 3. Happiness as accurate, positive self-appraisal -- 4. Happiness as connection to objective, preexisting good -- 5. What we learn from contemporary philosophers -- 6. Can everyone be happy? -- 7. Should everyone be happy? -- 8. How much suffering is compatible with happiness? -- 9. Why happiness is overrated -- IV: The paths to happiness -- 1. Adjust expectations -- 2. Nurture relationships -- 3. Be optimistic and appreciative -- 4. Have faith -- 5. Make peace, not war -- 6. Be goal-oriented -- 7. Prioritize -- 8. Use leisure wisely, energize the senses, eat and exercise properly -- 9. Go with the flow -- 10. Be lucky -- 11. Forms of happiness -- V: The meaning of life -- 1. What does it mean to say life has meaning? -- 2. The existential problem -- 3. The religious solution -- A. Eastern religion -- B. Western religion -- C. Assessment of religion -- 4. Cosmic meaninglessness -- 5. The construction of contingent meaning -- A. Nietzsche -- B. Camus -- 6. Telescopes and slinky toys -- 7. Meaning & significance -- 8. Death.