Philosophy of HappinessFall 2011

Factual Questions

• Does Ehrenreich claim that the positive thinking movement just another form of self absorbed distraction that is blinding us from the real problems of the world?

• What object does B.E. feel insulted her intelligence and made her feel “infantile”?

• Considering B.E.’s view of positive thinking, what does she believe concerning motivational schemes promoted by employers? Is this a type of encouragement for personal well-being or a means of social control in the workplace?

• What was the reason, given by a California court, for ruling against a female employee’s charge of sexual harassment after being publically spanked for under performing for a home security company?

Happiness Questions

• When M. Ricard was approached about writing a book with his father, why did he agree but not believe he would ever write it?

• According to Ricard, there are three modes of suffering. What are they? – Visible Suffering– Hidden Suffering– Invisible Suffering

• What is significant about Invisible Suffering? – It stems from the “blindness of our own minds”

Happiness

• T/F The more you can free your daily activities to the autonomous the more you free consciousness for higher functions? (True)

• What are the basic elements of suhka?- The joy of being alive- The conviction that we still have the ability to flourish-An understanding of the epheneral nature of all things

• Who does B.E. identify as believing that poverty is a voluntary condition, and is a direct result of one's willful failure to embrace abundance?

• T/F The world of ignorance and suffering is not a fundamental condition of existence but a mental universe based on our mistaken conception of reality is called samsara? (True)

• #1: Has our Positive Thinking Movement done nothing but Capitalize happiness?

#2: Does Ehrenreich believe that the Positive Thinking Movement is nothing but a self-absorbed distraction from the threats, problems, and shortcomings that plague our world?

T/FAccording to M. Ricard, there is a distinct

difference between true and false altruism.

• At which American university did M. Ricard undergo his neurological analysis?