Comments on: The Happyness Hypothesis http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2007/05/22/the-happyness-hypothesis/ Blogging on Philosophy and Politics Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:09:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Yet There Is Method In It » Blog Archive » Advertising http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2007/05/22/the-happyness-hypothesis/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Yet There Is Method In It » Blog Archive » Advertising Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:43:58 +0000 http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2007/05/22/the-happyness-hypothesis/#comment-39 [...] Studies indicate that our level of happiness is mainly physiologically determined. Our conscious choices [...] [...] Studies indicate that our level of happiness is mainly physiologically determined. Our conscious choices [...]

]]> By: Yet There Is Method In It » Blog Archive » On Happiness http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2007/05/22/the-happyness-hypothesis/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Yet There Is Method In It » Blog Archive » On Happiness Thu, 24 May 2007 18:36:02 +0000 http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2007/05/22/the-happyness-hypothesis/#comment-38 [...] contribution. (Note: there is nothing wrong with short term happiness! It’s just short!) The Happiness Hypothesis does list some factors that are not normalised by time. Our set point (S), which is “hard [...] [...] contribution. (Note: there is nothing wrong with short term happiness! It’s just short!) The Happiness Hypothesis does list some factors that are not normalised by time. Our set point (S), which is “hard [...]

]]> By: El Sordo http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2007/05/22/the-happyness-hypothesis/comment-page-1/#comment-37 El Sordo Thu, 24 May 2007 14:39:52 +0000 http://www.methodinit.org.uk/methodinit/2007/05/22/the-happyness-hypothesis/#comment-37 Thankyou for this. I'd heard of the book but I appear to have let it slip from my grasp. I like the notion of Positive Psychology that concerns itself with Mental Wellness as opposed to Mental Illness. It certainly represents a refreshing approach to the subject and an extreme opposition to medical psychiatry that categorizes mental states into illnesses and succesful treatments as the supression of symptoms. It is interesting to note that in Transpersonal Psychology meditation techniques are commonly posited as effective therapeutic vehicles, both for mental illness but also for mental wellness and the exploration of the self. I like the metaphor of elephant and rider it has a resonance with some of Wittgensteins anti-theory work, he was happy to say that a great deal of what we do is biologically and culturally primitive and that much of what we do is what we do because we are animals. Or rather because we are a particular type of animal. So I will be interested to explore this more in the realm of addiction. A further note, positive psychology could (I am told) be seen as part of the broader spectrum of what constitutes transpersonal psychology. Anyway, not sure about the happiness formula, could you explain this to us a little more? I guess my problem is questioning just how measurable (in empirical terms) is happiness? Do we have a reference point (outside of experience) as to what would make us more happy? What if we were unable to communicate our senses of approval or aprobation? Thankyou for this. I’d heard of the book but I appear to have let it slip from my grasp.
I like the notion of Positive Psychology that concerns itself with Mental Wellness as opposed to Mental Illness. It certainly represents a refreshing approach to the subject and an extreme opposition to medical psychiatry that categorizes mental states into illnesses and succesful treatments as the supression of symptoms. It is interesting to note that in Transpersonal Psychology meditation techniques are commonly posited as effective therapeutic vehicles, both for mental illness but also for mental wellness and the exploration of the self.
I like the metaphor of elephant and rider it has a resonance with some of Wittgensteins anti-theory work, he was happy to say that a great deal of what we do is biologically and culturally primitive and that much of what we do is what we do because we are animals. Or rather because we are a particular type of animal. So I will be interested to explore this more in the realm of addiction.
A further note, positive psychology could (I am told) be seen as part of the broader spectrum of what constitutes transpersonal psychology.

Anyway, not sure about the happiness formula, could you explain this to us a little more? I guess my problem is questioning just how measurable (in empirical terms) is happiness? Do we have a reference point (outside of experience) as to what would make us more happy? What if we were unable to communicate our senses of approval or aprobation?

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