Authentic Happiness - Episode #4

http://www.PhilosophersNotes.com Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman. How about some love from Martin Seligman's great book looking at the science of happiness: "Authentic Happiness"?!? In this PhilosophersNotes TV episode we'll explore the origins and Positive Psych and how to get your signature strengths on! :)

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Martin
• Seligman
• Positive
• Psychology
• Authentic
• Happiness
• PhilosophersNotes
• Brian
• Johnson
• TV
• PNTV

[mattmgarza]

Brian Johnson is awesome! I have Volume 1 and I thought it would take me months to get through them but I listen to them while running and at work--and at home, every chance I get, just can't seem to put them down. He truly "stands on the shoulders of giants" and provides such a wonderful summary of some of the best books ever written.

[PhilosophersNotes]

@mattmgarza Thanks for your kind words, Matt!

[obscenegrace2003]

You are right on two counts: YT is not the place for real discussions and, secondly, I have not studied positive psych. However, whether or not pos psych can be demonstrated to work scientifically, I am fundamentally at odds with the notion that self delusion is good for you. I am particularly concerned about how these techniques are being used by corporations as a new form of human management designed to maintain corporate order no matter how terrible the conditions are for employees.

[PhilosophersNotes]

@obscenegrace2003 We share our distaste for "self delusion." Thankfully, that's not what positive psychology is about.

[obscenegrace2003]

The fallacy of so-called positive psychology is that it assumes happiness should be the determining value of human life. I cannot understand why happiness should be valued more than, say, freedom, beauty, truth, justice-- things that can actually cost us happiness. In fact, unrealistically positive views of the self, exaggerated beliefs in personal control, and unrealistic positivity is a more insidious means of control than the traditional modes of violence and coercion.

[PhilosophersNotes]

@obscenegrace2003 All part of a longer chat better had over tea than YT comments. Check out Seligman's new book "Flourish" where he addresses some of your concerns. You might also enjoy Tal Ben-Shahar and Heidi Grant Halvorson. I get the sense you haven't actually studied positive psych in any depth as your criticisms sound more like criticisms of the general self-help movement than the emerging science of well-being.

[AndAgainWeShoutIt]

Happiness is overrated and circumstantial. Joy is where its at.

[OrganicKing]

@obscenegrace2003 the end game of everything is happiness. we like freedom, beauty etc because they give us POSITIVE emotions.

[PhilosophersNotes]

@NJR711 Fantastic!!! :)

[NJR711]

@PhilosophersNotes Discouraged was not quite the accurate word there and you were right to question it. I have continued watching several of your vids and put some of my quad II type rituals back into place. In doing so, I have discovered better ways of utilizing my strengths and want to thank you for your ENCOURAGING literature and videos.