A Comparison of Contemporary American Notions of...

People who are viewed as happy in our culture today are also seen as being rich, having a loving family, and a great occupation. Our society is attracted to material things, rather than spiritual ones. Can a person who does not have many possessions and an elevated social position still live a happy life? Epicurus believed that each one of us could achieve true happiness, and our only problem is that we stubbornly search for it in all the wrong places. Epicurus states that we only need three things to be happy besides the essentials needed for survival: friends, freedom, and an analyzed life. I will be comparing contemporary American notions of happiness to the Epicurean view. In our contemporary American life we have the†¦show more content†¦We are searching for happiness in the wrong places, and need to develop into a more simple society. If expensive things cannot bring us joy then why are we so drawn toward them? The logical explanation is that expensive possessions seem like a plausible solution to needs we do not understand. There are so many Americans who look happy on their exterior, but live with sadness and sorrow and who comfort themselves with material items. Before deeply thinking about happiness I figured that all wealthy people are happy, because they have the means to buy anything they desire. However, I have met very wealthy people who live very unhappy lifestyles. According to Epicurus we need three things to be happy and they include friendship, freedom, and an analyzed life. A wealthy person, who has no family and friends, will never truly be happy, until they have some personal connection with others. Epicures’ first ingredient to happiness is friendship. He compared eating a meal alone to the lifestyle of a lion or a wolf, and he tells us that we should focus on who we dine with rather then what we are eating to bring us joy. A rich person can buy expensive dishes that might bring that person a pleasurable taste while indulging, but if that person is eating alone in silence the experience may not be as enjoyable. Wealthy people may appear to have many friends who they think they can trust, but fame and fortune can attract the type of people who cannot be trusted. Just because youShow MoreRelatedSources of Ethics20199 Words   |  81 Pagescode of ethics: 102 RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PROFESSIONAL: 102 3.0- CONCLUSION: 105 4.0-REFFERENCES 106 1.0- JOHN STEINER AND GEORGE STEINER SIX PRIMARY SOURCES OF ETHICS: Six primary sources have been identified in the American business area by ethics scholars George and john steiner as under: 1- Religion: The great world religion as we hav seen are: †¢ Judaism †¢ Christianity †¢ Islam The business people in this religion believe that theirRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesSelf-Assessment Library What’s My Emotional Intelligence Score? 115 An Ethical Choice Schadenfreude 120 Point/Counterpoint Sometimes Blowing Your Top Is a Good Thing 122 Questions for Review 121 Experiential Exercise Who Can Catch a Liar? 123 Ethical Dilemma Happiness Coaches for Employees 123 Case Incident 1 Is It Okay to Cry at Work? 124 Case Incident 2 Can You Read Emotions from Faces? 124 S A L S A L 5 Personality and Values 131 Personality 133 What Is Personality? 133 †¢ The Myers-Briggs