A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Integral Perspective on Happiness
Authors: Joonas Uotinen
Publisher: Donner Institute for Research in Religious and Cultural History
Publishing place: Turku
Publication year: 2015
Journal: Approaching Religion
Journal acronym: AR
Volume: 5
Issue: 2
First page : 93
Last page: 106
Number of pages: 14
ISSN: 1799-3121
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30664/ar.67576
Web address : http://ojs.abo.fi/index.php/ar/article/view/989
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/3875130
A happiness science has emerged amidst, and spans, the social sciences. This research, despite the long philosophical tradition on happiness, is in its infancy and a robust theory of happiness is called for. I will review parts of the literature and some of the main happiness theories using Ken Wilber’s Integral approach. I will concentrate largely on Aristotle’s eudaimonia, as that has re-emerged into the centre of happiness discussions as a possible contender for the prevailing subjective happiness theories. The Integral approach seems to provide valuable insights into many happiness theories, juxtapose them in a comprehensible way, pinpoint deficiencies, and propose enhancements. Amongst other things, I will propose a new happiness theory combining John Kekes’ happiness theory with ecological ethics and I will conclude that enlightenment proves to be a good candidate for the ultimate good, or summum bonum, I will enlarge on Aristotle’s theory and propose that Wilber’s theory provides an ‘Integral road map towards eudaimonia enhanced – the enlightenment’. I will argue that eudaimonia and enlightenment, though superficially dissimilar, accord in surprising ways, to a great extent. I will discuss whether the discussion of happiness and morality is critically biased, and I will discuss the societal implications that Wilber’s conception of the human might have through its implications for happiness theories.
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