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Single Idea 9227
[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / d. Routes to happiness
]
Full Idea
People who are scrupulously moral may nonetheless be destined by deficiencies of character or of constitution to lead lives that no reasonable person would freely choose.
Gist of Idea
We might not choose a very moral life, if the character or constitution was deficient
Source
Harry G. Frankfurt (The Reasons of Love [2005], 1.2)
Book Ref
Frankfurt,Harry G.: 'The Reasons of Love' [Princeton 2006], p.6
A Reaction
This fairly firmly refutes any Greek dream that all there is to happiness is leading a virtuous life. Frankfurt is with Aristotle more than with the Stoics. It would be tempting to sacrifice virtue to get a sunny character and good health.
The
32 ideas
with the same theme
[how can happiness be achieved?]:
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5835
|
The road of freedom is the surest route to happiness
[Aristippus elder, by Xenophon]
|
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332
|
One should exercise both the mind and the body, to avoid imbalance
[Plato]
|
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17947
|
Plato decided that the virtuous and happy life was the philosophical life
[Plato, by Nehamas]
|
|
7812
|
For peace of mind, you need self-government, indifference and independence
[Diogenes of Sin.]
|
|
5139
|
If happiness can be achieved by study and effort, then it is open to anyone who is not corrupt
[Aristotle]
|
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39
|
Happiness needs total goodness and a complete life
[Aristotle]
|
|
5144
|
Happiness is activity in accordance with complete virtue, for a whole life, with adequate external goods
[Aristotle]
|
|
100
|
The happy life is in accordance with goodness, which implies seriousness
[Aristotle]
|
|
106
|
The best life is that of the intellect, since that is in the fullest sense the man
[Aristotle]
|
|
5865
|
Happiness involves three things, of which the greatest is either wisdom, virtue, or pleasure
[Aristotle]
|
|
5850
|
Happiness is composed of a catalogue of internal and external benefits
[Aristotle]
|
|
14059
|
The best life is not sensuality, but rational choice and healthy opinion
[Epicurus]
|
|
20865
|
Happiness is the end and goal, achieved by living virtuously, in agreement, and according to nature
[Stoic school, by Stobaeus]
|
|
22756
|
If a desire is itself desirable, then we shouldn't desire it, as achieving it destroys it
[Sext.Empiricus]
|
|
6678
|
We live for the past or future, and so are never happy in the present
[Pascal]
|
|
7917
|
Realising our future misery is a kind of happiness
[Rochefoucauld]
|
|
4860
|
Man's highest happiness consists of perfecting his understanding, or reason
[Spinoza]
|
|
5019
|
Supreme human happiness is the greatest possible increase of his perfection
[Leibniz]
|
|
7538
|
The happiest people link the beginning and end of life
[Goethe]
|
|
21371
|
We can never attain happiness while our will is pursuing desires
[Schopenhauer]
|
|
7076
|
Mill wondered if he would be happy if all his aims were realised, and answered no
[Mill, by Critchley]
|
|
24111
|
Happiness is the active equilibrium of our drives
[Nietzsche]
|
|
14849
|
We can only achieve happy moments, not happy eras
[Nietzsche]
|
|
7159
|
The only happiness is happiness with illusion
[Nietzsche]
|
|
14884
|
The shortest path to happiness is forgetfulness, the path of animals (but of little value)
[Nietzsche]
|
|
5655
|
Happiness is not satisfaction of desires, but fulfilment of values
[Bradley, by Scruton]
|
|
20180
|
A happy and joyous life must largely be a quiet life
[Russell]
|
|
21743
|
In wartime, happiness is hating the enemy, because it gives the war a purpose
[Russell]
|
|
9227
|
We might not choose a very moral life, if the character or constitution was deficient
[Frankfurt]
|
|
4650
|
The quality of a life is not altogether independent of its length
[Glover]
|
|
20154
|
Control is the key to well-being
[Kekes]
|
|
20157
|
Well-being needs correct attitudes and well-ordered commitments to local values
[Kekes]
|