shifting gears #3: smile like you mean it feraco myth to science fiction 16 april 2010

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Shifting Gears #3: Shifting Gears #3: Smile Like You Mean It Smile Like You Mean It Feraco Feraco Myth to Science Fiction Myth to Science Fiction 16 April 2010 16 April 2010

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Shifting Gears #3: Shifting Gears #3: Smile Like You Mean ItSmile Like You Mean It

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

16 April 201016 April 2010

What is Happiness?What is Happiness? I Only Want to Make You SmileI Only Want to Make You Smile Return of the QuotesReturn of the Quotes The Teleological Approach to Goodness The Teleological Approach to Goodness

(and Happiness!)(and Happiness!) Deontology vs. Teleology – Which One Will Deontology vs. Teleology – Which One Will

You Choose?You Choose? Becoming Worthy of HappinessBecoming Worthy of Happiness The Pursuit of Happ(y)nessThe Pursuit of Happ(y)ness Everything is Connected – For Better or Everything is Connected – For Better or

WorseWorse Why Do We Sabotage Ourselves?Why Do We Sabotage Ourselves? ““I Have Known Bruises…”I Have Known Bruises…”

Return of the Quotes!Return of the Quotes!

Morality is not properly the doctrine of Morality is not properly the doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy of how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness. happiness.

Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant We are always getting ready to live but We are always getting ready to live but

never living.never living.

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson Were we always the way Emerson Were we always the way Emerson

suggests we are?suggests we are? Is Kant right?Is Kant right?

On With the Aristotle…On With the Aristotle…

Aristotle – one of our great minds – Aristotle – one of our great minds – took what we call a took what we call a teleologicalteleological approach to “good”approach to “good” Telos: Greek – meanings vary from Telos: Greek – meanings vary from

“bullseye” and “goal” to “purpose”“bullseye” and “goal” to “purpose” To him, something was good when it To him, something was good when it

“fulfilled its destiny” – when it “fulfilled its destiny” – when it completed a goal, when it lives up to completed a goal, when it lives up to the expectations that led to its the expectations that led to its importance to begin withimportance to begin with

The Death Cab ParadoxThe Death Cab Paradox If I tell you that I plan to teach about a “good book,” I’m If I tell you that I plan to teach about a “good book,” I’m

really signaling to you that the book satisfies really signaling to you that the book satisfies my criteria my criteria for goodnessfor goodness

Perhaps I’ve decided it’s a “good book” because I believe Perhaps I’ve decided it’s a “good book” because I believe books have to contain exciting moments in order to be books have to contain exciting moments in order to be good (and it has them), or because I decided that good good (and it has them), or because I decided that good books need interesting characters (and it has them)books need interesting characters (and it has them)

However, if you believe that “good” books However, if you believe that “good” books havehave to have a to have a predictable story/an ending that “doesn’t make you think” predictable story/an ending that “doesn’t make you think” (which it doesn’t have), however, you won’t think the book (which it doesn’t have), however, you won’t think the book is very good at allis very good at all

Your expectations for the book were different from mineYour expectations for the book were different from mine This explains the “Death Cab Paradox” – we judge it This explains the “Death Cab Paradox” – we judge it

differently because we have different expectations for the differently because we have different expectations for the music we hear (i.e. you need songs to have energy, or to music we hear (i.e. you need songs to have energy, or to be technically difficult – but I need them to have melody be technically difficult – but I need them to have melody and good lyrics)and good lyrics)

Teleology, Belief, and ChoiceTeleology, Belief, and Choice

Teleology, therefore, allows us to give Teleology, therefore, allows us to give things purposes of our choosing – and for things purposes of our choosing – and for us to be alternately satisfied or us to be alternately satisfied or disappointed by how well something lives disappointed by how well something lives up to that “reason for being”up to that “reason for being” This, in turn, allows us to develop morals and This, in turn, allows us to develop morals and

ethicsethics

Remember that we established that Remember that we established that morals and ethics, for good or for ill, morals and ethics, for good or for ill, provide us with a framework for our provide us with a framework for our interpretations – and therefore our goals!interpretations – and therefore our goals!

Teleology, Belief, and Choice Teleology, Belief, and Choice ContinuedContinued Our goals Our goals becomebecome our reason for being – our reason for being –

and our sense of satisfaction becomes and our sense of satisfaction becomes dependent on how well we live up to our dependent on how well we live up to our expectations and hopes for ourselvesexpectations and hopes for ourselves Without goals, we have nothing to aim for, and Without goals, we have nothing to aim for, and

therefore nothing to make us satisfiedtherefore nothing to make us satisfied

Our goals can be inwardly directed Our goals can be inwardly directed (something that satisfies us) or outwardly (something that satisfies us) or outwardly directed (something that satisfies directed (something that satisfies someone else)someone else)

Teleology, Belief, and Choice Teleology, Belief, and Choice ContinuedContinued In short, In short, our morality becomes the our morality becomes the

means by which we can earn means by which we can earn happinesshappiness

If our morality is determined by both If our morality is determined by both choice and experience, then one choice and experience, then one could argue that we all control could argue that we all control whether we’ll be happywhether we’ll be happy

Emerson’s and Kant’s quotes seem Emerson’s and Kant’s quotes seem more interesting in this contextmore interesting in this context

On the One Hand, On the On the One Hand, On the Other…Other… On the one hand, we have to live at some On the one hand, we have to live at some

point – we have to point – we have to do do something instead something instead of just talking about it, or we’ll never of just talking about it, or we’ll never satisfy those goalssatisfy those goals

On the other hand, we can still be happy if On the other hand, we can still be happy if we plan we plan as well asas well as live; we may not live; we may not achieve full satisfaction all at once, but achieve full satisfaction all at once, but we’ll always be hitting we’ll always be hitting some some benchmark benchmark (before moving on to the next goal so we (before moving on to the next goal so we can experience new happiness!)can experience new happiness!)

DeontologyDeontology Now let’s move on to Kant’s argument; Now let’s move on to Kant’s argument;

can those goals become the ways in which can those goals become the ways in which we make ourselves we make ourselves worthyworthy of happiness? of happiness?

Kant was what we call a Kant was what we call a deontologist deontologist – – someone who believes that goodness someone who believes that goodness grows out of morals, rather than the other grows out of morals, rather than the other way around (which we argued earlier)way around (which we argued earlier)

According to Kant, morality meant that According to Kant, morality meant that you acted on the basis of what you were you acted on the basis of what you were expected to do alone – meaning that you expected to do alone – meaning that you were really pleasing to a teleologist!were really pleasing to a teleologist!

Unfortunately…Unfortunately…

Unfortunately, Kant also believed Unfortunately, Kant also believed that anything other than an that anything other than an “expectation imperative” made an “expectation imperative” made an action immoralaction immoral

Therefore, if you run around the Therefore, if you run around the track because your coach expects track because your coach expects you to go run around the track, you to go run around the track, you’ve acted morally – but if you ran you’ve acted morally – but if you ran just because you wanted to enjoy it, just because you wanted to enjoy it, you’ve compromised your morals you’ve compromised your morals because it’s not your duty to have because it’s not your duty to have fun!fun!

That’s…DifferentThat’s…Different

Talk about relative values – we were Talk about relative values – we were confused about whether Death Cab confused about whether Death Cab for Cutie or “One Tree Hill” could be for Cutie or “One Tree Hill” could be good, and now Kant wants us to look good, and now Kant wants us to look at ourselves completely differently!at ourselves completely differently!

It’s an interesting way to look at It’s an interesting way to look at both happiness and morality, if you both happiness and morality, if you think about itthink about it

Do you prefer Kant’s system, or Do you prefer Kant’s system, or Aristotle’s?Aristotle’s?

The ResistanceThe Resistance

Many resist deontology specifically Many resist deontology specifically because it seems to deem spontaneous, because it seems to deem spontaneous, independent happiness as unhealthy – independent happiness as unhealthy – whereas teleology views it as the natural whereas teleology views it as the natural outgrowth of meeting one’s own outgrowth of meeting one’s own expectationsexpectations

In this case, the pursuit of happiness is In this case, the pursuit of happiness is incredibly important – rather than making incredibly important – rather than making our morals determine our level of our morals determine our level of satisfaction, we switch the relationship satisfaction, we switch the relationship aroundaround

Morals Built on SandMorals Built on Sand If you notice this, it’s easy to see how humans If you notice this, it’s easy to see how humans

can become worthy of happiness in their own can become worthy of happiness in their own eyes – just adjust your morals, and your goals will eyes – just adjust your morals, and your goals will adjust as welladjust as well

It’s the reason why people can be satisfied while It’s the reason why people can be satisfied while underachieving – they’ve changed their morals to underachieving – they’ve changed their morals to the point that true excellence no longer mattersthe point that true excellence no longer matters Can you prove that laziness exists?Can you prove that laziness exists?

Are they worthy of happiness? Is Are they worthy of happiness? Is everyoneeveryone worthy of it (which would mean Kant was wrong), worthy of it (which would mean Kant was wrong), or should we be doing something in order to or should we be doing something in order to deserve our good fortune (karma, caution, deserve our good fortune (karma, caution, compassion, etc.)?compassion, etc.)?

The Pursuit of Happ(y)nessThe Pursuit of Happ(y)ness

Moving forward, we’ve covered the highs and Moving forward, we’ve covered the highs and lows of deontological and teleological lows of deontological and teleological approaches to morality and happiness.approaches to morality and happiness.

Is there more to happiness than the simple Is there more to happiness than the simple fulfillment of moral imperatives – which seem to fulfillment of moral imperatives – which seem to be the basis of both systems?be the basis of both systems?

We contrasted what made you happy when you We contrasted what made you happy when you were five versus what makes you happy nowwere five versus what makes you happy now

Are you more concerned with the well-being of Are you more concerned with the well-being of others now that you’re older?others now that you’re older?

How have you changed? Is it all a matter of more How have you changed? Is it all a matter of more complicated goals? Perhaps self-awareness?complicated goals? Perhaps self-awareness?

The Pursuit of Happ(y)ness The Pursuit of Happ(y)ness ContinuedContinued Was it easier to be happier when you were Was it easier to be happier when you were

younger?younger? This is a cousin of the question about which happiness is This is a cousin of the question about which happiness is

“better” – your mature version or your prior one“better” – your mature version or your prior one When did you think more about your own When did you think more about your own

happiness – then, or now?happiness – then, or now? What do you intend to get out of each day?What do you intend to get out of each day?

If you have no intentions, how can you have goals?If you have no intentions, how can you have goals? If you have no goals, Aristotle doesn’t believe If you have no goals, Aristotle doesn’t believe

you can be truly happyyou can be truly happy You can be pleasantly surprised – but is a life You can be pleasantly surprised – but is a life

spent waiting for intermittent pleasant surprises spent waiting for intermittent pleasant surprises worth living?worth living?

Arrows and LeavesArrows and Leaves

True happiness seems to result from effort True happiness seems to result from effort – the satisfaction that’s earned is better – the satisfaction that’s earned is better than the satisfaction that’s handed outthan the satisfaction that’s handed out In other words, it’s better to be the arrow than In other words, it’s better to be the arrow than

the leafthe leaf

After all, the vast majority of you decided After all, the vast majority of you decided that it was important to make your own that it was important to make your own moral code – and to make your own moral code – and to make your own decisions rather than allow someone to decisions rather than allow someone to control you, even if that control led you control you, even if that control led you down a comfortable pathdown a comfortable path

……And It Goes Back to Choice and And It Goes Back to Choice and MoralityMorality In this way, choice, morality, and In this way, choice, morality, and

happiness seem interrelatedhappiness seem interrelated If we have free will, we can decide If we have free will, we can decide

how to interpret our experienceshow to interpret our experiences We can allow those interpretations We can allow those interpretations

to shape our moralsto shape our morals Our morals, in turn, shape our future Our morals, in turn, shape our future

choiceschoices By shaping our choices, our morals By shaping our choices, our morals

shape our goals – and our goals shape our goals – and our goals shape our happiness!shape our happiness!

Is Everything Really That Is Everything Really That Simple?Simple? Well, not necessarilyWell, not necessarily We may not have free willWe may not have free will We do things that violate our morals or our We do things that violate our morals or our

ethics; sometimes we attempt to rationalize ethics; sometimes we attempt to rationalize these actions, while at other times we don’t even these actions, while at other times we don’t even trytry

We can go through life passively, drifting leaf-We can go through life passively, drifting leaf-like from day to day without even noticing the like from day to day without even noticing the passing of time – or that we’re not growingpassing of time – or that we’re not growing

We make the choices that ordinarily bring us We make the choices that ordinarily bring us happiness harder; by procrastinating, for happiness harder; by procrastinating, for example, we stain the “fun things” we do in the example, we stain the “fun things” we do in the meantime with a hidden dread, a knowledge that meantime with a hidden dread, a knowledge that everything gets worse when this experience everything gets worse when this experience ends. ends.

This ensures that we won’t have as much fun as This ensures that we won’t have as much fun as we should be having!we should be having!

The Free Will to FailThe Free Will to Fail

If happiness is such an important If happiness is such an important human concern – and if great minds human concern – and if great minds seem to have devised ways to find it seem to have devised ways to find it – why do we still sabotage – why do we still sabotage ourselves?ourselves? In this case, we can blame our ability to In this case, we can blame our ability to

choose incorrectly – the free will to choose incorrectly – the free will to make a bad decisionmake a bad decision

This is a choice that, judging by our This is a choice that, judging by our discussions, you treasure – so this is discussions, you treasure – so this is OK!OK!

Frances Shand KyddFrances Shand Kydd

In short, we may love pursuing In short, we may love pursuing happiness successfully – but we happiness successfully – but we seem to love our ability to be seem to love our ability to be disappointed almost as much, disappointed almost as much, because that disappointment both because that disappointment both seems to validate our free will…and seems to validate our free will…and to make our successes all the to make our successes all the sweeter.sweeter.

““You need to know bruises to know You need to know bruises to know blessings, and I have known both.”blessings, and I have known both.”

Now It’s Your Turn!Now It’s Your Turn!

Yesterday, you discussed moralityYesterday, you discussed morality Today, I’d like you to articulate your Today, I’d like you to articulate your

personal philosophy regarding personal philosophy regarding happinesshappiness

Best of luck!Best of luck!