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

Miles Jackson cqmv at pdx.edu
Thu Nov 29 09:17:57 PST 2007


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



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