Human Flourishing And Edaimonism

Critics propose that just because something cannot be confirmed, does not mean that it is not acknowledged or that there is no reason in trusting it. Rene Descartes wanted certain knowledge to be absolute, although this is not the only option, and others would claim that justified knowledge is adequate. Other philosophers claim skepticism is imperious because a skeptic cannot know that skepticism is absolute.

First and foremost the beginning chapter, the book speaks of their experience and what lead them to a search of happiness and meaning in life. During this search, his friend issued him a challenge to research accurate and logical claims of Jesus Christ proving that he is God’s son. Proving that he occupied a human body living amongst men and women and he died on the cross for the sins of humanity as well as being buried and resurrected three days later. Overall this book discusses the answers to the questions many have on the hunt for happiness: Who am I? What is my purpose? What is my destiny?

“Happiness is in the enjoyment of man’s chief good. Two conditions of the chief good: 1st, Nothing is better than it; 2nd, it cannot be lost against the will” (Augustine 264-267). As human

Throughout the course of humanity’s history many questions have risen that have posed a problem to us as a species. Questions such as the following: What is the proper relationship between individuals and society? What is beauty, and why is it important? Is there purpose in human existence?, and many others have caused enough trouble in humanity’s short existence on the earth to cause a near identity crisis. However, all of these questions fall under the shadow of the main question that has been asked since the creation of Adam- “What exactly is the real relationship and purpose of humanity towards the divine?”

In Barbara Fredrickson’s Selections from “Love 2.0: How our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do and Become”, our conventional viewpoint on love is changed so that it can lead to a happier and healthier life. Similarly, in Karen Armstrong’s “Homo Religiosus”, she talks about religion and culture to explain the meaning of life and help people reach internal happiness. Both of these authors make sure that people forget about their previous beliefs so that they can reach Fredrickson’s system of “positivity resonance”, or Armstrong’s idea of internal happiness, or antta.

Many philosophers have spent countless hours contemplating human existence and human purpose, but overall they are all analyzing one question- what is the best way to live? In almost every culture around the world, life is cherished and people have come up with religions and philosophies that suggest answers to the question concerning the best way to live. Some philosophies, such as Ayn Rand’s objectivism and Aristotle’s views on happiness, are centered around pursuing one’s own happiness and leading a fulfilling life. However, actually successfully living in the best way by pursuing one’s own happiness is quite challenging due to the complex restraints of human nature and human flaws. In order

If an individual asked many different people from around the world what they thought the meaning of life is, this individual is destined to receive numerous answers that would vary from living a happy life to bringing about happiness to others. However, the most recurrent response would likely be something to the extent of “living a happy, healthy life.” Very few ever accomplish what McCandless achieved, an actual state of happiness and contentedness within one’s life. “ many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind…”(Chris McCandless, Into the Wild) McCandless had the naive idea that if one wants to find serinity within oneself, the individual must have the courage to venture out of one’s habitual lifestyle and mold to unaccustomed experiences. McCandless also infers that finding meaning in your life is not only accomplished by experiencing unorthodox mannerisms but by taking life lessons from these experiences and applying it to better yourself in the future. When ordinary needs have been fulfilled, an individual tends to seek more. Some take up religion or even drugs but others, such as McCandless, strive for personal fulfillment or

John Stuart Mill and Aristotle both address the idea of happiness as the goal of human life. They explain that all human action is at the foundation of their moral theories. Mill addresses the Greatest Happiness Principle, which is the greatest amount of pleasure to the least amount of pain. Similarly, Aristotle addresses happiness through the idea of eudaimonia and human flourishing. According to Aristotle, eudaimonia is happiness, it is the state of contemplation that individuals are in when they have reached actualized happiness. Also referred to as happiness or human flourishing, it is the ultimate goal of human beings. Happiness is “living well and acting well.” He explains that once general happiness becomes recognized as the moral standard, natural sentiment will nurture feelings that promote utilitarianism. According to Aristotle, happiness is a state of being. Both Mill and Aristotle agree that in order to attain true happiness, human beings must engage in activities that are distinct to humans and that make them happy. Aristotle’s idea of eudaimonia and human flourishing is a more compelling argument than Mill’s for happiness and the final end because Aristotle explains that the virtues bring human beings to happiness.

The famous philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated that “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” The world is full of people who are conformists as well as people who stand for themselves and follow their own values. Emerson explains that by being yourself you are already part of something great. However, the question still lingers: Which is the real cause of genuine happiness? There have been many claims argued by various sources, such as Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, Ursula Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas, Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery and Sherry Turkle’s TED Talk titled “Connected, but alone?”. All have come to a consensus

Notably, the thing about human life is that everyone desires friendship or to be simply not be alone. In the story of the epic of Gilgamesh talks about how friendship changed his whole life. Gilgamesh used to be a terrible ruler led by arrogance, and brutality of his people. He was overconsumed with power, therefore doing whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. It seemed that Gilgamesh grew bored of life, and had a deep hole in his heart as such something was missing from his life. One day Gilgamesh told his mother “I want a friend for my own counselor, for my own Counselor do I want a friend” (Foster 106). He needed someone to confide in as well as talk too about his plans and future. Gilgamesh had everything in his life from riches to power, but it seemed like the thing he craved more than success was someone to take the journey beside him. In a

As a child, I grew up in a Christian family where my dad would read to my siblings and me from the Westminster Catechism. The first question from this text asks “What is the chief end of man?” And the matching response is “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” This seemingly simple answer is something I have taken to heart and strive to live out in my daily life. For me, this looks like spending time in the Word, journaling, talking with friends and people I come into contact with about their lives, and trying to maintain a positive attitude even when things don’t go quite as I had planned. I think glorifying God and truly resting and enjoying His peace and presence is

Enlightenment?, he described enlightenment as letting go of self incurred immaturity or tutelage and having the courage to use your own understanding (Kant, 1959). This goes hand in hand with ideology’s cry for a demand of action because once a person reaches enlightenment and can successfully think for themselves, they have the chance to catalyze change. However, reaching enlightenment is no easy feat. Most people simply live their lives constantly asking if they are doing the right thing. Although this is a somber truth, these types of people make governing tremendously easier for the state because there is much less resistance from the citizen. Although these less enlightened individuals make ideology politically beneficial for governments,

He recommended gaining a rational control over one’s desires, these desires being those that can be harmful to life such as: lust, greed, pride, and power. He argued that the key to human happiness is to turn away from the body and towards the soul. He said that harmonizing the different parts of the soul would produce a divine-like state of inner tranquility that the external world could not alter. A moral life is to be preferred to an immoral life. This view of happiness is linked to other concepts such as justice, virtue, and the ultimate meaning of human existence. Living a moral and just life would lead to a happier life.

Friendships are special relationships that begin the development of social skills in each human person. Every time we open the door to form new friendships it begins with an experimental and holistic practice of philosophy and science. Whether we recognize the use of philosophy and science or not it’s being applied to shape friendships. The formation and bond of friendships has been studied for many years through science, philosophy, and theology. The point of this paper is to give the point of view and purpose of friendship according to science, philosophy, and theology and how it is applied to our everyday life.

Human flourishing can be defined as the concept of members of society growing to become the best person they can be. In religion, human flourishing occurs when everyone is searching for everlasting happiness and they achieve it with the only way possible: through God (Religion lecture, Oct. 23, 2015). In order to flourish, everyone must do what they ought to do, and do what they want to do (Zuberbueler, 2015). However, these should either be the same thing or very similar, and will reflect the intentions or desires of God and his word. In addition, flourishing cannot occur without forgiveness. In regards to human flourishing in society and religion, challenges arise when members come together; specifically, certain aspects of life and culture can compromise human flourishing.