ERIC Number: EJ1011278
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1857
EISSN: N/A
Conflicting Uses of "Happiness" and the Human Condition
Fishman, Stephen M.; McCarthy, Lucille
Educational Philosophy and Theory, v45 n5 p509-515 2013
Nel Noddings claims that there is an important normative element in happiness. For support, she points to the Aristotelian idea of the "eudaimonic" life, a concept that is often translated into English as "the happy life". However, in light of the wide divergence between the Aristotelian view of "eudaimonia" as a life of virtuous activity and most contemporary psychologists' and lay people's view of happiness as subjective wellbeing, the authors of this article believe that Noddings's merging of the two has several shortcomings. Aside from ambiguity and confusion, it encourages us to deny that, given the human condition, we must sometimes choose between happiness as pursuit of positive emotion and personal satisfaction and happiness as pursuit of the common good and the virtuous life. (Contains 3 notes.)
Descriptors: Psychological Patterns, Well Being, Satisfaction, Emotional Response, Teacher Role, Educational Environment, Philosophy, Moral Values, Altruism
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A