Deck 12: Happiness

Question 1

In Hemingway's story "In Another Country," a character says after his wife's death that a man should not marry-"He should not place himself in a position to lose. He should find things he cannot lose." With these words, the character illustrates the outlook of which philosophy?

A) hedonism.
B) stoicism.
C) Buddhism.
D) epicureanism.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Epicurean happiness means

A) knowing all things good and bad must pass.
B) balancing indulgence with moderation.
C) pursuing reason and virtue.
D) indulging the senses.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

According to Buddhism, the first of the Four Noble Truths is

A) pain ceases when desire is fulfilled.
B) happiness is the avoidance of pain.
C) there is no escape from pain.
D) life is filled with pain.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Gandhi is considered an example of moksha because he

A) demonstrated stoicism in his death.
B) found happiness despite external suffering.
C) spoke truth to power.
D) devoted his life to nonviolence.

Question 5

In Buddhist philosophy, both Hinayana and Mahayana refer to

A) paths to happiness.
B) ultimate bliss.
C) types of suffering.
D) strategies of meditation.

Question 6

Cervantes's Don Quixote presents happiness as

A) a willingness to accept the foibles of human existence.
B) a retreat from a harsh life into fantasy.
C) a move from chaos to order.
D) inseparable from financial success.

Question 7

Thomas à Becket's martyrdom is an example of

A) hedonism.
B) stoicism.
C) carpe diem.
D) epicureanism.

Question 8

The version of happiness that involves reflection on how life is being lived is

A) Aristotelian.
B) Buddhist.
C) epicurean.
D) stoic.

Question 9

If a person partakes in pleasure moderately, that person is exhibiting

A) carpe diem.
B) hedonism.
C) epicureanism.
D) stoicism.

Question 10

In comedies such as Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, happiness is presented mainly as

A) a willingness to accept the foibles of human existence.
B) inseparable from financial success.
C) a move from chaos to order.
D) a retreat from the harsh realities of life.

Question 11

An idea central to Aristotle's notion of happiness is that

A) happiness should hinge on gifts we cannot lose.
B) reason allows us to moderate emotional responses to pain.
C) all things, whether good or bad, must pass.
D) reason and virtue are essential for a good life.

Question 12

The philosopher most associated with stoicism is

A) Aristotle.
B) Aristippus.
C) Viktor Frankl.
D) Zeno.

Question 13

The philosophy closely associated with carpe diem is

A) stoicism.
B) Hinayana.
C) hedonism.
D) epicureanism.

Question 14

The idea that happiness is more one's response to circumstances than the circumstances themselves is central to

A) epicureanism.
B) Aristotelian happiness.
C) stoicism.
D) hedonism.

Question 15

For Aristotle, happiness is

A) the result of giving up desires through meditation.
B) relative to one's perspective.
C) not based on experiencing moments, but a way of living life.
D) a response to circumstances rather than the actual circumstances.

Question 16

Viktor Frankl's philosophy can be summarized as

A) the size of human suffering is relative.
B) the truly innocent can always be happy.
C) happiness comes from selfless service to others.
D) happiness comes from refusing to compromise.

Question 17

Anne Frank's persistently forgiving attitude and reluctance to see anyone as bad mark her as happy according to the standards of

A) Aristotle.
B) epicureanism.
C) hedonism.
D) Buddhism.

Question 18

The philosophy that holds pleasure is to be experienced primarily through the senses is

A) hedonism.
B) stoicism.
C) epicureanism.
D) Buddhism.

Question 19

In Buddhism, freedom from pain comes from

A) changing one's perspective on happiness.
B) following the Eightfold Path.
C) fulfilling one's desires.
D) retreating from pain.

Question 20

"All you can eat" buffets and open bars at weddings are examples of

A) hedonism.
B) epicureanism.
C) stoicism.
D) Aristotelian happiness.

Question 21

What is schadenfreude?

Question 22

Choose a comedy or a romantic comedy film or play. Explain the version of happiness the work represents.
I. Name a work of comedy or romantic comedy.
II. Identify the work's theory of happiness.
III. Explain how it shows that theory using details from the work.

Question 23

What does Aristotle believe to be the role of government?

Question 24

Describe rationalizing.

Question 25

Based on your observations, explain which theory of happiness would be most helpful to the world we live in today, using examples of what modern problems that theory would address.
I. Identify and explain which theory of happiness that would be most helpful to the world.
II. Explain how the theory would address modern problems.

Question 26

What is The Nicomachean Ethics?

Question 27

One of the philosophers in the chapter identifies happiness with virtue and goodness. Assess the accuracy of such a claim. How might one support such a claim? How might one criticize it? What do you believe about happiness and goodness?
I. Explain why Aristotle's ideas of virtue and happiness seem accurate.
II. Explain where Aristotle's ideas of virtue and happiness seem to fall short.
III. Offer an opinion on Aristotle's ideas, using examples to defend the stance.

Question 28

Based on your observations, what theory of happiness seems to be practiced most often in the world today? Explain the theory and give examples of its practice.
I. Identify and explain which theory of happiness is most often practiced in the world.
II. Provide and explain examples of how this theory is practiced.

Question 29

What is the big earnings theory?

Question 30

Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Buddhism all consider the role of pain in happiness. Discuss each philosophy and explain how each relates pain to happiness.
I. Describe stoicism and explain how it treats pain and happiness.
II. Describe Epicureanism and explain how it treats pain and happiness.
III. Describe Buddhism and explain how it treats pain and happiness.