Re: "Usefull languages"

John Cowan <cowan@...> writes:

> J Y S Czhang scripsit:
>
> >     I have always had a certain sneering, cynicism toward that phrase
> > "pursuit of Happiness." Happiness is quite overrated for bein' just a mental
> > state... a confluence of personal disposition/character (or lack thereof),
> > situational/ephemeral conditions and neurochemical reactions in the brain.
>
> That's because moderns mostly know the phrase out of its original
> context, which is that of "public happiness", i.e. the ability to
> participate in public affairs.  In the 18th century there was no
> real distinction between government and society.
>
doesn't this also relate to the Aristotelian theory of happiness? That is (in the
simplest terms, since I'm not really sure how to say it otherwise), the pursuit
of happiness would be the pursuit, or the movement towwards a life in
accordance with reason, i.e. the ultimate perfection/actuality of humanity's
potentialiy.

er....or am i insane?

Elliott Lash