History+of+Happiness

= = = __The Evolution of Happiness__ = = = In ancient times, western philosophers viewed happiness as an unpredictable, fragile thing and believed that a man could not be judged to be happy until after he died. Christianity reinforced these thoughts by claiming that it was merely a matter of faith. [|4] During the Enlightenment in the 18th century a new idea emerged that held that a man could influence his own happiness. This concept ultimately led to the idea of the "Pursuit of Happiness." [|3] Recently, beginning in the 1960's, scientists have begun to gather quantitative research on happiness for the first time in history. All data collected since then have been relatively consistent, confirming that happiness is a universal concept. One interesting idea that has recently emerged is that the conscious pursuit of happiness may actually limit our happiness. [|4]

= = = = = = = __The History of Happiness__ = = = Over 2,500 years ago many philosophers took an interest in happiness. The initial pursuit of happiness started in China, India, and Greece. Today we are comparing these philosophers insights on happiness to the scientific approach of positive psychologists. Researchers are finding points that are staying a common theme over the following key questions: "Are we stuck with who we are, or can we actually make ourselves happier in a more enduring way? And if we can, what are the concrete attitudes and lifestyles we should adopt in order to do so?" Below are four major thinkers who devoted their lives to answering these questions and finding what happiness is.  1

= __The Philosophy of Happiness__ =  Buddha - 563 B.C.  Buddha was very attached to the thought of enduring happiness and so he became interested in curing dysfunctions. He would be much like a doctor, where he would analyze the cause and then come up with a treatment. His cure is the eightfold  [|2]  path which is the core of which involves the control of one's mind. He is known as the "master of meditation". He is one of the greatest at combining breathing and some yoga postures which creates a compassionate way of life. Buddha was a teacher who found Enlightenment through meditation. He taught many, the Four Noble Truths in order for his students to achieve happiness and peace of mind. The Four Noble Truths are as follows: a. Life is/means dukkha (mental dysfunction or suffering). b. Dukkha arises from craving. c. Dukkha can be eliminated. e. The way to the elimination of dukkha is the Eightfold Path Buddha believed that //dukkha// ultimately arose from ignorance and false knowledge.

Buddha developed the Eightfold Path, which is a systematic and practical way for people to dismiss dukkha from their lives. Division of the Eightfold Path Buddhism is a philosophy and practice that is concerned with the mind and the various delusions, misunderstandings, and cravings it can produce. Fortunately the mind is able to find its way out through mindful practice and higher consciousness. When deeply looking into Buddha's teachings, life is fulfilled through engagement with lived reality. By engaging with one's self, the world and reality a person is then able to achieve happiness. [|3]
 * Right View/ understanding || Wisdom ||
 * Right Intention/ thought || Wisdom ||
 * Right Speech || Ethical Conduct ||
 * Right Action || Ethical Conduct ||
 * Right Livelihood || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Ethical Conduct ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Right Effort || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Mental Cultivation ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Right Mindfulness || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Mental Cultivation ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Right Concentration || <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Mental Cultivation ||

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Confuscius - 551 B.C. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He believes that learning about humanity and trying to find it in one's life will fill one with joy. He feels that the person who does the right thing is doing it only for the sake of social approbation, but not self-cultivation. The proper villager isn't "rejoicing in virtue", he's stealing it and using it to hide himself. Confucius believes that if you don't cultivate your humanity, then you're not worthy of the title "Noble Person". [|5]

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Aristotle - 384 B.C. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> "Happiness depends on ourselves"-Aristotle. Aristotle was the one who made happiness the central purpose of the life of a man and made it a goal in itself. He said that happiness depended on the cultivation of virtue, much like Mencius said. He believed that happiness was attained by maintaining the Mean, which is the balance between two excesses. This was to achieve virtue. What Aristotle really wanted to find out was what is the ultimate purpose of human existence. He wanted to know what is the end goal of our activities. The act done by someone has to be self-sufficient and final also still remain attainable by man. Aristotle claimed that almost every one agreed that happiness is the end that would meet all of these requirements. He believed that all things like money, pleasure, and honor are goods that brought us to the end which is happiness. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; vertical-align: super;">[|6] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Mencius - 372 B.C. Mencius was often called the pioneer of Positive Psychology. Mencius traveled extensively and while doing so he would provide philosophical and political counsel to tense rulers. Mencius if famous for his arguments about humans having "sprouts" deep within themselves. People have to cultivate these sprouts of humanity and righteousness in order to become virtuous people. He also discusses that while on the right path to self-realization you will have to understand the roles of satisfaction and joy. He makes it very clear that in order to nourish the vital force within our selves, we must perform a steady accumulation of righteous acts. The purest acts are deep down with in us. He also makes it a point to talk about our lesser and greater selves. The lesser self seems closer to physiological side, which is the attraction to material things. He isn't saying that the lesser self is bad or that the greater self is better. All he is trying to argue is that unhappiness is the imbalance of these two selves. When describing the greater self, Mencius says that as it grows, the less vulnerable it becomes to the lesser self. He talks about how the mind is the mediator between the selves. It is the role of the mind to make reflections of one's priorities and that it must ensure that the actual sensual aspect of the lesser self isn't hidden by the addictiveness of material things in our lives. While discussing virtues Mencius says, "The fruit of humanity is devotions to one's parents. The fruit of righteousness is to respect one's elders. The fruit of wisdom is to understand these two and not to betray them. The fruit of propriety is to regulate and polish them. The fruit of music is the joy that comes from rejoicing them. When one rejoices in them, they grow. When they grow, how can they be stopped? And when they cannot be stopped, unconsciously one's feet begin to dance and one's arms begin to wave." Within that he is saying that music enables us to express joy and that is how we acquire virtues. Mencius likes to use agricultural terms to reinforce the fact of how natural this whole process of happiness is. He concludes in saying that education is ineffective through indoctrination unless it provides moral examples and personal reflections. [|7]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 1. [] 2.[| http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/buddha/the-eightfold-path/] 3. [] 4. [] 5. [] 6. [] 7. []