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Question: Philosophers on happiness!?
who are some philosophers/what are their ideas on happiness!?
my ultimate objective is to convince my parents that i need to go to boarding school!.
one of my main points is that i'm absolutely miserable at my current school!. i backed this up using marx's ideas- about alienation in a capitalistic society (ie!. public schools)
i will likely also use locke's unalienable rights of life, liberty, and property, as well as thomas jefferson's pursuit of happiness
but i really want to find more about a right to happiness- any help is much appreciated!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Utilitarians (Bentham and Mills) feel that maximizing human welfare is the only source of happiness!. They have there own ideas of what maximizes human welfare!.
Kant thought that anyone could be happy, but the only moral happiness is the one you are worthy of having by fulfilling your duties and following the categorical imperative!.
There are two major branches of philosophers in regards to happiness: 1) the hedonists feel that happiness only comes through bodily pleasure and 2) the desire-fulfillment philosophy who say that fulfilling desires is what brings about happiness!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I think, maybe because I'm both a parent and a grandparent, that you would get farther with practical arguements rather than philosophical ones!. Assuming your parents can afford private schools, I would try the following:
* Better education, especially in your areas of interest!.
* Reduced state mandated, time wasting classes
* Different population of students who can challenge you intellectually!.
* Higher probability of entry to the college of your choice!.
* Challenging, interesting staff who will keep you on your toes intellectually!.
* Opportunity to meet diverse population of students and learn from that!.
You seem like a smart person!. Work more on ideas about how private school, especially the one(s) you wish to attend, will help you meet goals that they can share and support!.
Good luckWww@QuestionHome@Com
My viewpoint about happiness is that it does
not exist per se!. What exist are moments of happiness intertwined with periods of mishaps!.
Why would you want to go to boarding school!? You seem to be fun of liberty, and even mention Thomas Jefferson's pursuance of happiness, which was based on freedom!. Boarding school will add restrictions to your goal of freedom, and therefore of happiness!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Wow, you are certainly well read, I think if you explained to your parents that you feel under stimulated intelectually by your peers, they may understand, however, if you having trouble dealing with some of the people you go to school with, you may want to stick it out, take it from me you will face challenges like this your whole life, you have to be able to stand your ground and be yourself!. good luck!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
How is there alienation in a capitalistic society!? Alienation from what!?!.!.!.anyways!.!.!.Ayn Rand holds happiness as mans reason for living!. That every man lives for the himself and no one else with happiness as the moral of his life!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Well, have you ever thought the cost of these school, they dont come cheap, there are other ways, to make your life in your school, now better! Thing about you,ll see!Www@QuestionHome@Com
i like confucius' views on happiness!. i'm not super well versed on all his philosophies, but so far what i've heard about his views, i am in complete agreement with except for those on the place of women in society!.
but i think that at the end of the day you don't really need to quote what others say to prove your point!.
i think you just need to find out exactly why you aren't happy at your school!. maybe just changing to another public school would be good enough for you!.
if not then you could see why boarding schools specifically would provide you with happiness in areas that public school cannot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com