[lbo-talk] Crisis and revolution (Was Re: offlist)

[Miles Jackson]

Doug Henwood wrote:
> On Nov 29, 2007, at 11:09 AM, Miles Jackson wrote:
>
>   
>> I was going to reply to Michael P., but WD already said what I was  
>> going
>> to say.  There is a huge difference between "self flourishing" or  
>> "self
>> development" and being happy.  --Further: the American devotion to
>> "being happy" is more or less irrelevant to meaningful self  
>> development.
>>     
>
> Jefferson meant self-development when he wrote that phrase about the  
> pursuit of happiness, didn't he? Isn't that a phrase with a history?
>
> Doug
> ___________________________________
>
>   
To what degree does this history shape the current understanding and use 
of the word "happy"?  Granted, it's an empirical question.  However, at 
least among the people I talk to, happiness is typically construed as a 
state of contentment, not a dynamic process of self development.  But 
maybe I need to get out more.

Miles