The Psychology of Happiness
A Good Human Life

The Psychology of Happiness brings together a wide array of psychological theory and research supporting Aristotle's fulfilment view of happiness.

Samuel S. Franklin (Author)

9780521138673, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 14 September 2009

192 pages, 7 b/w illus.
23.1 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.27 kg

'Franklin … reaches his own synthesis of Aristotle's philosophy and scientific psychology. This means that this book is suited for at least two audiences. It is an excellent introduction to Aristotle's philosophy and the ideas in psychology, which are relevant for thinking about the good life. Above that it is interesting for people who look for a synthesis in the burgeoning field of happiness research, and who do not like the hedonistic variants of happiness.' Ad Bergsma, Erasmus University Rotterdam

When Thomas Jefferson placed 'the pursuit of happiness' along with life and liberty in The Declaration of Independence he was most likely referring to Aristotle's concept of happiness, or eudaimonia. Eudaimonia is not about good feelings but rather the fulfilment of human potentials. Fulfilment is made possible by virtue; the moderation of desire and emotion by reason. The Psychology of Happiness was the first book to bring together psychological, philosophical, and physiological theory and research in support of Aristotle's view. It examines the similarity between Aristotle's concept of virtue and modern cognitive theories of emotion. It discusses the discovery of human potentials, the development of virtue and its neurological basis, the mistaken idea that fulfilment is selfish, and several other issues related to the pursuit of a good human life.

1. What is happiness
2. Happiness as fulfillment
3. Aristotle's ethics
4. Actualization: psychological views
5. Knowing thyself
6. The things we need to be happy: the relativity of goods and the golden mean
7. Introduction to virtue
8. Some of the more important virtues
9. Virtue and emotion
10. Early psychological views of virtue and emotion
11. Virtue and emotion: recent psychological views
12. The physiological basis of virtue
13. Emotional intelligence
14. The development of virtue according to Aristotle
15. Psychological views of virtue development
16. The polis and actualization
17. Contemplation: another kind of happiness.

Subject Areas: The self, ego, identity, personality [JMS], Psychology: emotions [JMQ], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Psychology [JM], History of Western philosophy [HPC]