Modern Psychological Conceptions of Happiness and the Classical Idea of Happiness.
Conceptions of happiness differ from person to person worldwide. It not only differs person to person, but can too differ in different segments in time. “To live happily is an inward power of the soul.” Quoted by Aristotle, his conception of happiness greatly differs from the modern day happiness we now know. Modern day psychologist uncover happiness by confronting pain, or trauma, while classical idea of seeking happiness is taking part of physical activities, that can grow the mind body and soul. These two show a great deal of contrast in the conceptions of happiness between the classical era, and modern day era. As one deflects problems and focuses on the positive, and the other absorbs the problem while sifting through finding a resolution to gain happiness again.
The classical idea of happiness from Aristotle’s view is a basic and understandable one, Leisure. Aristotle theorized for types of disciplines for leisure; reading and writing,drawing,music, and physical training. He believed that all four developed a persons mind, and personality. Physical activity promoted courage, music was the balance between work and reading and writing developed communication and ov=observational skills.. Practicing leisure can bring happiness to one’s life, however too much of one thing can create chaos in the person within.Aristotle advises young adolescents to engage in leisure training for short periods of time, and after puberty to find a discipline in leisure to master for 3 years. All of this sounds exactly like the educational system today in which in contrast deems to be very stressful on youth by far in history. According to the Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on family stress, peer stress, romantic relationship stress, school stress, and neighborhood stress, a study conducted by Anita Chandra, DrPH, Associate Behavioral/Social Scientist and Ameena Batada, Dr PH School was ranked the highest stressor above all the types listed.
However according to Aristotle’s theory, focusing on perfecting a specific leisure, can evolve ones flow in life.Flow enhances one’s mind from the effect of work/leisure, producing an optimal state to happiness. This type of state creates a blissful feeling and of non worry, which in today’s society has amounted to anxiety, and lack of confidence.
The Modern day way of attaining happiness has been directed into possession of objects due to the media and its agenda of financial gain. Humans are now being negatively affected by it, and in turn have developed mental diseases such as depression, chronic pain and toxic relationships. Getting in the zone of flow according to Robert Stebbins, is often difficult to attain due to outside distractions. Today we have distractions such as, Technology, Psychological trauma/pain, peers, and the economical standard of education and work. All of these result in draining someone’s energy and loosing balance of flow. The seriousness state of flow defined by psychologist Martin Seligman stated that if you don’t get flow most days, you probably will never be happy. Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, the author of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, states that if you know how to flow, you can expect to be happy practically no matter what, including during times of serious conflict. In contrast to the conception of happiness today many still define it by possession yet neglect that it affects them negatively. Being is the state of flow, which in a sense is a balance of both leisure and self elightenmentéunderstanding.
In my opinion, the conception of happiness does not exist only in the mass of society as Aristotle would disagree with, but in my opinion there needs to be a balance of isolated reflection, and interaction. I find a lot of tension between individual and civilization in modern day society. The conceptions of happiness has drastically changed due to the inability of contentment of society. Isolation and reflection of The id, ego, and superego,the three parts of the human personality which are part of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic personality theory. According to Freud, these three parts combine to create the complex behavior of human being. However I believe the environment can greatly impact each of these personalities and the modern day environment has changed these personalities overtime. Because of such a complex society I believe mastering leisure, and also mastering contemplation can benefit the human race and cohesively impact the conception of happiness.
In conclusion reality is complex as Marquis De Sade states without pain there is no happiness. Understandably, connecting that quote with conception of happiness and how it differs, there needs to be a balance between the negative and the positive. We live in a dual reality which requires balance. This is not the Classical era anymore, and there are a lot of other distractions that can impact how we can all be happy, leisure is not the only way to be happy, and understanding trauma/pain is not the only way to be happy. If there is too much of one thing it can greatly harm a human, environment or even situation. Keeping in tune with Flow, practicing leisure, and experiencing oneself in contemplation can result in an abundant positive impact in the rediscovery and civilization of the conception of happiness.
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Flow: Let’s Get Serious about Leisure. (2013, June 05). Retrieved March 17, 2017, from http://www.patheos.com/blogs/blackwhiteandgray/2013/06/flow-lets-get-serious-about-leisure/
Pieper, J. (2009). Leisure the Basis of Culture. Ignatius Press.
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