Free The Pursuit of Happiness Essay Sample

The book deliberates itself to a king who is In Jerusalem. It begins by quoting that if money had the possibility of buying happiness then the king would have bought happiness. The making reflects back in his life, a life that was full of necessities. He sought happiness through his riches. The king appears to be regretting. He says-: “I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit tree… I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, and many concubines. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them (Ecclesiastes 2:4-10). These are the words of the author of the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament.

This however could mean that the story refers to crisis that most of the people find themselves in. but he himself sees this as not making sense. He comments: “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun”

This gives us the insight of the author about what he treasured-: learning, hard work, and wine. The irony is that he never got satisfied. There was no amount of anything that could drive out the feeling he has had through out his life. He felt that his life was no more important as compared to that of an animal. In relation to Stoics’ and Buddha’s philosopher Epictetus the problem of the author can b easily known-: the pursuit for happiness. Stoicism and Buddhism gives lessons that going for those goods that are external or worse still make the world to fit into your wishes is similar to going after the wind. It is true that happiness can be sought within self by detaching ourselves from things that are external to us and nurturing acceptance attitude. Buddhists and Stoics can be having jobs, relationships and possessions. However, they are not emotionally connected. This is because it will assist to remain high despite a loss that may arise from this.

This idea is therefore the continuation of the fact that life is what you think, and the state of your mind determines how you view things. The research on psychology has shown that Epictetus and Buddha may have gone far. It is true that some things are worth going for. Happiness can be gained from our external self and if only we knew where to find it.
The principle of progress

The Ecclesiastes’ author was not only wrestling the meaninglessness fear; he was wrestling the disillusionment that comes along with success. The bliss of having what you want is normally transitory. It is probable that someone would be dreaming of getting a promotion, getting a big project done or being admitted to a prestigious school. We are always busy in our jobs with an imagination of how happy we would be if we would realize that ambition.
The hypothesis

Epictetus, Buddha and other erudite saw the shortcomings that come along with the rat race and requested people to quit it. They suggested a hypothesis of happiness: happiness comes from within and it cannot be found by making the world conform to your desires. The Buddhism offers lessons on the fact that getting attached to something can be dangerous and offers a remedy on how to get off the detachments. The ancient Greece Stoic philosophers advised their disciples to concentrate on what they had full control on. This is actually meant their own reactions and thoughts.

It is worth noting that apart from strong gene influence demographic and environmental elements influence happiness to a certain level.

Love and attachment

The author tells of a story his father underwent when he was young. His father was diagnosed with polio. This came at the time went the disease was regarded as contagious and that his father was confined in a room. Those who visited him were not allowed to interact with him. However they could only see him through a window pane. The nurses too wore masks in attending to the patient.
One day things changed, her mother used to visit but she like rest of the people could not meet him. But the author is categorical that when the mother of his father came visiting he begged her not to leave but asked her to enter in. on her next visit she entered without observing the rules and this led her being reprimanded. His father was later discharged in perfect condition.

The idea behind the reaction of the mother revolves around two ideas behaviorism and psychoanalysis. The theories agree on the very little that the attachment of the infant to the mother is linked to the milk. The theorist, Freud, pointed out that initial attachment to the mother by the child is as a result of libido of the infant was content with the breast. This is where the first connection between the infant and the mother begun. As time goes by the infants begin to develop liking towards women as only those who have the breast.

The behaviorists cared less on libido but observed that the initial reinforce is the breast. The reward being the milk-: for the initial behavior which in this case is sucking. The behaviorism heart was more conditioning. The theorists have concurred that too much affection by the mothers to the children are responsible for spoiling the children. The children get lazy.

The author of the book though he dealt with most of the things relating to the human nature other stones were left unturned. This is because many theories emerge and that what he said before may not apply. The ambitious people in the society would work round the clock to get what they want. This is going to be irrespective of whether they get to be happy or not. They believe in going for what they want. It is ironical that one would believe in the hypothesis on happiness yet a lot remain an achieved. This is the reason why people work hard to meet the rising cost of life and to attain the best.

 

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