Happiness and the Good Life

What is happiness? How is it related to morality and virtue? Does living with illusion promote or diminish happiness? Is it better to pursue happiness with a partner than alone? Philosopher Mike W. Martin addresses these and other questions as he connects the meaning of happiness with the philosophical notion of "the good life." Defining happiness as loving one's life and valuing it in ways manifested by ample enjoyment and a deep sense of meaning, Martin explores the ways in which happiness interacts with all other dimensions of good lives--in particular with moral decency and goodness, authenticity, mental health, self-fulfillment, and meaningfulness. He interweaves a variety of examples from memoirs, novels, and films along the way, connecting his discussion of the philosophical issues to related topics that interest all of us: virtue, love, philanthropy, suffering, simplicity, balancing work and leisure, and much more. Drawing on wide-ranging and robust evidence, Martin also makes the case that we need a "politics of happiness" whereby government would apply the results of recent "happiness studies" in psychology to public policy.

"Chapman University philosophy professor Martin defines happiness as loving one's life and valuing it in ways manifested by myriad enjoyments and a robust sense of meaning. In most cases, however, one's sense of happiness increases when it is part of a life consistent with virtues generally accepted by society. Drawing on positive psychology, whose practitioners study the character traits, emotions, and attitudes considered desirable by most societies, Martin places the virtues into three categories: valuing what is good, strength in pursuing good, and wisdom in understanding what is good. Authenticity, which Martin defines as a deep, honest, affirming, active participation in forming oneself, also plays a large role in contributing to happy lives. While authenticity and the virtues cannot guarantee happiness, and can even sometimes conflict with each other, when pursued together, they tend to reinforce each other. Using the work of Plato, Aristotle, and contemporary psychologists as guides, as well as the writings of Mary Shelley, Goethe, and even Mike Leigh's film Happy Go-Lucky as examples, Martin rigorously investigates the complex web of interactions between happiness, morality, and virtue." Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Mike W. Martin is Professor of Philosophy at Chapman University (in Orange, California). He specializes in applied ethics, and his books include From Morality to Mental Health: Virtue and Vice in a Therapeutic Culture and Meaningful Work: Rethinking Professional Ethics.

Preface

1. Loving Life

2. Valuing Happiness

3. Betting on Virtue

4. Authenticity

5. Happily Self-Deceived

6. Suffering in Happy Lives

7. Paradoxes of Happiness

8. Happy to Help

9. Shared Pursuits in Love

10. Balancing Work and Leisure

11. Simplicity

12. Felicity in Frankenstein

13. Personal and Political

Bibliography

Index