Joy & Good Life Exam 1

cardinal

principle habits on which all the other habits hinge. general templates for moral activity.

Irenaeus

“the glory of God is being fully alive”

Aquinas

“that state of perfect happiness which is the contemplation of God in the beatific vision”

“one becomes courageous by doing courageous deeds”

Westminster Catechism

the purpose of our lives is to “glorify God and enjoy God forever” (essentially training in happiness)

prudence

wisdom concerning human affairs. good judgments about how we should behave. requires 1) general moral principles and 2) particular situations that require a decision.

temperance

moderation common to every moral virtue, specifically of physical pleasures (drinking, sex, and eating). we refine the way we enjoy pleasures.

courage

modifies the “irascible appetite” which is the desire for what is difficult to attain or avoid

justice

governs our relationships with others. concerns not only individual benefits but community well-being.

faith

acceptation of the truth of supernaturally-revealed principles

hope

trust in God to obtain true and complete happiness.

charity/love

loving God for his own sake. loving our neighbor is included in loving God. it is possible to sin against this theological virtue, therefore we need the cardinal virtues to curb our sinful inclinations.

fruits of the spirit

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

three elements of Pre-Enlightenment moral philosophy

1.) Humankind as it is (untutored human nature)

2.) Humankind as it could be if it realized its telos

3.) Virtues

Why does Christian tradition say “the good person is the happy person?”

We are happy when we are the people God called us to be: people of goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. God desires our happiness, therefore he gives us the pathway to obtain it. Only perfect goodness can satisfy us: God. Therefore when we embrace goodness, we pursue the happiness he has in store for us.

relationship between pleasure and happiness

pleasure comes and goes in a way happiness does not. happiness is stable and resilient and loves something in proportion to its goodness. earthly pleasures may contribute to our happiness, but they are insufficient.

virtue

skill, disposition, or habit that leads to or constitutes the desire to end. must be learned, is not innate.

vices

virtues of either deficiency or excess. the average of both vices is the healthy virtue.

ex: virtue: courage

virtue of deficiency: cowardness

virtue of excess: foolhardiness

seven deadly sins

greed, gluttony, lust, pride, sloth, envy, anger

freedom

the capacity to do what is GOOD, product of a life of discipline.

“freedom from…” political tyranny, persecution, abuse, sin, etc. does not constitute goodness.

“freedom to…” do good. to become a certain kind of human, free to pursue Christ.

corruption

seeking external goods as an end.

ex: money facilitates good and happiness but should not be our end goal, as it is not fulfilling.

miswanting

the act of being mistaken about what and how much you will like something in the future.

hedonic adaptation

the process of becoming accustomed to a stimulus such that the emotional effects are attenuated over time.

ignorance of hedonic adaptation

produces impact bias (overestimating the emotional impact of a future event), focalism (thinking about just one event), and immune neglect (being unaware of our psychological immune system)

What is PERMA?

Positive emotion- including savoring joy, hope, compassion, etc

Engagement- aligns with “flow”, means living in the present moment, highest strength meets the highest challenge

Relationships- feeling loved and supported by others, as humans are inherently social creatures

Meaning- belonging or serving something greater than ourselves, guided by personal values

Accomplishments- cultivates a sense of pride, includes perseverance and passion

magnanimity

desire for excellence in every area of life. requires steadfastness.

pusillanimity

the vice of magnanimity. being overly concerned with the petty and the trivial. puny dreams, expectations, etc.

why is friendship central to moral formation?

1.) we grow in goodness with people who also want to do good.

2.) through friends we come to know ourselves better (they are like a mirror).

3.) friends help us stay committed to what is good and what is promising.

Lyubomirsky’s main theme

50% of happiness comes from our genetic set point

10% due to our life circumstances

40% from intentional, practical activities

Foundation of PERMA

based on Abraham Maslow’s self-actualization principle. Outlines the characteristics of a flourishing well-being.

PERMA+

happiness expands beyond those five categories and can include: optimism, nutrition, physical activity, and sleep