...The Pursuit of Happiness through Conflict and Loss Happiness is desired by all people, but very few are able to achieve true happiness. In “Mirror Image” written by Lena Coakley, the protagonist Alice battles with herself to find her true identity after a brain transplant. This conflict stops her from finding true happiness, since she is not happy with her new self. Alice’s view of herself was different, and so was her views on life, physically and intellectually. Similarly, Norman from “The Prospectors Trail” by Cathy Jewison deals with many conflicts on his pursuit of happiness. After failing early on his life, Norman struggled to find happiness. He discovered that some people’s trash is another person’s happiness. His discovery did not...
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...Name: Instructor: Course: Date: What Brings People More Happiness: Pursuit of Desires or Their Attainment? People define happiness differently. An economist relates happiness to the wealth of individuals while a psychologist defines happiness with regard to feelings and deep emotions of gratification. To some, happiness is attributed to the attainment of desires, and to others satisfaction of human beings lies in the fact that life is glum, and expectations serve to betray men. Where real satisfaction and happiness lies, remains a question that many try to answer. While attainment is the ultimate objective of all pursuits and accomplishment is a factor for more progress, desires and destinations still do not completely satisfy humans. The pursuit of your dreams and desires injects purpose into your life making it meaningful. By responding to your utmost desire, it is guaranteed that you would be happily leading your life, as there is always a push in driving everyday through. Pursuit prevents you from experiencing stagnant stages in life, as you are always motivated to achieve what you want to achieve. While the outcome if this pursuit may not be guaranteed, you can still gain happiness throughout the journey. The blunders made, the challenges surmounted, the adversities faced will all transmute you into a better person, with good virtues cultivated all the way. Of great importance, you would not die regretting; as you have toiled and tried your best in attaining...
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...The Pursuit of Happiness Jun Xi Zhou DeVry University The Pursuit of Happiness I would like to comment on a movie called “The Pursuit of Happiness”. It is based on a true story of the famous self-made millionaire Chris Gardner. When I saw this movie, I thought it might be another old story of inspiring people to stick to their dreams, nothing new. But I decided to watch it for the reason that it stars Will Smith who was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actor because of his performance in this movie. I believe that a good movie must have a good plot, wonderful acting, and the most important thing is the audience’s feeling when they have finished watching the movie. I expect the movie to give me the strength and let me feel happiness. Protagonist of the story is the American black’s investment expert Chris Gardner. Film tells a bankrupt salesman through their unremitting efforts, finally become famous financier of the inspirational story. The most important thing is that what people will know and what are people’s feelings after they have watched the movie. When watching the film I was considering whether to continue to go to college, and I don't know direction. I considered whether I should continue to pursue my dream. After I finished watching, I found that unlike a usual success story, this movie is realistic because there are many failures, defeats and missed opportunities before success happens. An important clue in the film is the change...
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...The pursuit of happiness and the cultural divide Debra Poole PSY/220 May 25, 2014 Michelle Culmer The pursuit of happiness and the cultural divide We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness (Declaration of Independence, 1776). We have believed in this motto or creed since before these words were put down on paper and to this day we still hold the pursuit of happiness as one of our most basic and fundamental rights. Through our history we have defended our right to live our lives according to what we believe makes us happy and free. Driven by a need to live our lives according to our own plan without dictates from others in a dizzying pursuit of happiness whatever that may be for each individual. Happiness is not something that can be generalized because what makes you happy may not make your neighbor happy, so let’s take a look at the differences that exist in the pursuit of happiness. The United States has been categorized as an individualistic society where the needs and wants of the individual are as important, if not more, than the society as a whole. This can be demonstrated by the countless competitions we as a society hold where there is only one winner, not a team. We believe as a society that hard work will be rewarded with happiness in the form of success whether in business, sports, entertainment...
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...What exactly is happiness? According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, happiness is described as having a favorable attitude towards one's life as a whole, or the balance of pleasant experiences over unpleasant ones. Prevalent on the minds of many humans are the following questions: How does one achieve happiness? How can one make their pursuit of happiness less difficult? In John Stuart Mill's opinion, one should not pursue happiness at all. Mill has reported that he has found that "Those only are happy have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness." As a matter of fact, Mill believes that focusing on one's happiness will cause an individual to become unhappy, as supported by the quote "Ask yourself whether...
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...human beings do not attain the happy life that they will vi. So when we say that it is by the will that human beings are unhappy we don’t mean that they will to be unhappy, but that their will is in such a state that unhappiness must follow whether they will it or not. (On Free Choice of the Will, PAGE 23) b. How would the Consolation of Philosophy answer this question? vii. Book III is taken up with the proof of God’s existence viii. Based on the inadequacy of human desires to produce true happiness ix. Being capable of perfect happiness-in fact the source of that perfect happiness is innate and no human beings attain it through earthly goods, and the source of that perfect happiness must exist outside the earthly realm x. Emphasis is on the futility of seeking happiness through earthly desires xi. Examples of earthly desires: wealth, power…etc… xii. True Happiness is the pursuit of God through intellectual and spiritual means. It is considered the supreme good by...
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...The Pursuit of Happiness Andrew Roberts PSY/220 June 9, 2013 The Pursuit of Happiness The Pursuit of Happiness for one person is different for that of another person. The same goes for those of different cultures. It could be the traditions in how they are brought up as children and what they are taught to believe at an early age. In America we are continually told about the American Dream which is the portrait of the perfect family in a Norman Rockwell painting, the perfect job, the house with the white picket fence and no problems where everybody looks happy and acts as if they are happy; this would be a stereotype of what happiness looks like. Is this true happiness? Not really for very few of us ever achieve all of these things and I am 48 years old and if I waited to be happy until I had these things I never would be happy. Happiness is a state of mind of little things that make us happy with our lives each and every day. For some of us like myself it is just waking up in the morning and thanking god that I have another day to see this beautiful world we live in and the chance to spend another day on this earth clean and sober. This is a perfect example of the American culture, which is more self- determination, looking out for our wellbeing, getting to know ourselves and reaching for our own goals, and positive self-esteem and confidence. In recent years American children have now been encouraged to show their emotions and take pride in their accomplishments. We...
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...lives. Regardless of the fact if people are aware of it, they are continually a part of it. It is essentially a drive towards success to push towards a level of happiness. This doesn't have to require becoming wealthy, although if that is your dream you have the means to push for that goal. You are allowed to push for what you want to do what your dreams take you. You can become a doctor or a lawyer or a scientist or whatever your career desire is. If you want to start your own business you have that opportunity. The American Dream is about providing opportunity. It is your responsibility to provide that drive to accomplish those dreams. This dream can be ever changing and evolving, what you feel to be true today may not necessary be true tomorrow. I feel that this flexibility in our economy is a large part of what provides us with success and hope for the future. I find that the American Dream is even more so important in today's world. Politically the American dream is defined to be Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Life and Liberty is a given and is provided to us by the Constitution and protected by our government. Pursuit of Happiness is up to each and every one of us individually. You can both sit around and do nothing, or you can fulfill your dreams and achieve this level of happiness. I find that this is the huge difference between our economy and the failings of Communism. Communism while provides a Liberal approach by providing equality,...
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...Analysis American culture value through the film The Pursuit of Happiness The reason why the Hollywood films are popular, besides its wonderful plots, the characters in the films could always reflect the special American cultural values to audiences. The American spirit such as individualism, heroism, religious and pursuit of freedom are all reflect in the Hollywood films. However, the American dream is a unique American culture and has inspired many Americans to rely on personal struggle to make their dreams come true. Films from different culture have their different cultural values, in turn, the different cultures have reflect and strengthen their own culture values in their films, so that audiences could get to know the mainstream American culture values from Hollywood films. Hollywood as the largest American film media has created many motivation films to express the importance values of American dreams to the world. The film The Pursuit of Happiness (2006) by Gabriele Muccino is a very classical Hollywood biographical film which is based on Chris Gardner’s life story. The film talks about how a homeless man success from the hardship and finally became a famous investment expert through his struggle step by step. The narrative of the main character Chris’s story refers to the key aspect of American Dream which is the equity opportunity of everyone in the society. It has showed the thought that happiness will come to everyone as long as we do not give up and make unremitting...
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...action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has been rightly declared to be that at which all things aim.” Every human person, from the creation of man to the present day, whether knowingly or unknowingly, has been seeking one thing, one idea, one goal: happiness. From his earliest years, a human being’s natural inclination is to seek pleasure and avoid pain. The idea of happiness is a parallel to the idea of an ultimate good, mankind’s highest aim and is defined as a life of excellent function of of the rational faculties. Every man is striving for the good by means of the result of his actions, which are done for a purpose with an end in view. Everyone...
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...The first amendment to the constitution provides every citizen the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Focusing specially on the pursuit of happiness, if someone were to pray in a public school and another person nearby who had chosen to separate them self from religion heard that prayer. They could be offended and allow that prayer to trample on their pursuit of happiness. If someone feels their constitutional right has be violated they have the right to take it to the supreme court. This creates a fair system where no one feels their rights have been violated. This originally began to present itself an issue in 1962 and have progressively cut more and more religion out of...
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...particularly in topic as important as the pursuit of happiness. Happiness has always been an undying topic of many civilizations. For many philosophers, being happy is the purpose of living. The following part of essay is going to discuss what...
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...THE PURSUIT OF “GREEN CARD HAPPINESS” Starting into the New Year is a great opportunity to reflect the past year, to make plans for the future, personal goals and dreams and to ask ourselves one very important question: “What really makes me happy?”. If the answer to this question is: “America”, then you’re in best hands with The American Dream because we can help making your dream come true. The „pursuit of Happiness“ is a solid term in the United States Declaration of Independence. The American Dream has already helped many people to live their dream and counts 18,000 lucky Green Card winners so far. Winning a Green Card is the admission ticket into the land of the free with endless opportunity. LIFE, LIBERTY AND GREEN CARD LUCK The United States Declaration of Independence, announced on July 4th, 1776, claims: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…“ With this announcement, the United States declared their independence from the British Empire and became a free nation. This significant change has had a tremendous influence on American society and encouraged many people from other countries to immigrate to the United States. This was a revolutionary idea, as back then, European countries were still reigned by kings. THE MEANING OF „THE AMERICAN DREAM“ There is no general definition of The American...
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...The History of Happiness and Contemporary Happiness Studies Darrin M. McMahon New Directions in the Study of Happiness Notre Dame University, Oct. 22-24, 2006 Well, first of all let me say what an honor it is to be here, speaking to such an illustrious gathering of scholars, and to thank the organizers at Notre Dame for having invited me and indeed for having invited all of us. It occurs to me that we in the academic world like to talk about the importance of interdisciplinary discussions, about the need for cross-fertilization, and the like, but in my experience that is too often, regrettably, more talk than reality. So chapeau, as the French say, to Notre Dame for hosting this event around a subject that so clearly demands multiple perspectives. I’ve noted that this first panel modestly poses the question “What is happiness?,” and modestly let me say that I am singularly unfit to answer it, in large part because of my training as a historian, which makes me, I fear, unduly attentive to the way in which words and concepts change their meanings over time. To be perfectly frank, I’m partial to Immanuel Kant’s observation that “the concept of happiness is such an indeterminate one that even though everyone wishes to attain happiness, yet he can never say definitely and consistently what it is what he really wishes and wills.” But clearly that is not really going to be good enough here tonight. So how to answer the question “what is happiness.” I might point...
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...Darrin M. McMahon’s essay, “In Pursuit of Unhappiness”,was published in New York Times on December 29, 2005. His essay addresses the idea that we must be happy by starting with the famous phrase, “Happy New Year”. Human beings have a desire to be happy and are constantly searching for it. McMahon specifies that even with better living conditions than ever before, the level of enjoyment has not went up at all. The philosopher, John Stuart Mill, voices his opinion in the essay by saying, “Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so” (785). He confirmed after winning the battle of depression. Instead of accepting defeat, he chose to look elsewhere for happiness. The point he is trying to get across is that instead of looking for happiness and being...
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