Wellbeing

The Art of Living (Routledge)

by Mark Vernon

The politics of wellbeing and the new science of happiness have shot up the agenda since Martin Seligman coined the phrase "positive psychology". After all, who does not want to live the good life? So ten years on, why is it that much of this otherwise welcome debate sounds like as much apple-pie - "work less", "earn enough", "keep fit", "find meaning", "enjoy freedoms"? The reason is not, ultimately, cynicism. Rather, it is because a central, tricky question is being glossed just what is wellbeing? Mark Vernon argues that positive psychology has overlooked and sidelined the ancient wisdom on wellbeing, notably from the Greek philosophers. Now is the time to pay it proper attention.Vernon shows, surprisingly, that wellbeing is not found in a focus on pleasure, or even the pursuit of happiness itself. Rather, it is a question of meaning and responding to the great challenge of our the search for transcendence. For at root, the life that is going well cultivates a way of life based upon it is that which draws you out of yourself - in friends, hopes and ultimately the contemplation of mystery - and orientates a life towards that which is good.

Genres: Philosophy

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2008

Reviews

[Özgür Şanlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Güzel hoş bir muhabbet tadı bıraktı bende kitap.

[Mario Gagliardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book for a second time to try and understand the content a little more thoroughly. As I mentioned in the last review the book takes on some complex subjects in some deep ways. The strongest parts of this book are the discussion between lower and higher flourishing and the explanation of flow. A lot of talk about mystery, transcendence, and love are complex but incoherent at times. Vernon presents much on those matters but a lot of it contradicts and he only softly takes a preference.
******
A self help book that tackles the search for wellbeing. Lots of talk about happiness, pleasure, transcendence, religion, philosophy etc. It has a lot to it and can be read deeply and lightly.

[Elif Sena Ergin · Rating 3 out of 5]

İnsan ne bilirse o kadar alır. Bu yazıyı okurken bunu dikkate alın. Daha önce ciddi bir felsefe okuması yapmış değilim. Üzerine az biraz kafa yorduğum için bu eleştiriyi yazıyorum.
Vernon kendinin agnostik olduğunu söylüyor ama gayet Hristiyanca bir bakıştı benim gördüğüm, içine biraz tasavvufi ögeler, biraz da mistisizm eklenmiş. Arada usüldendir diye Tanrı'nın var olup olmadığını konuşmaya gerek yok diyor. Ama kişinin iyi oluşuyla çevirilerde aşkın olarak geçen şeyin çok ilişkili olduğunu söylüyor, bu aşkın varlığa Tanrı dese ne olur sanki. Bu katı dünyanın üzerinde daha yüce bir şeyler vs vs. Bu kitabın faydası tasavvufun insanı esenliğe ulaştırabileceğini düşünmem oldu. Bir de Platon'un iki atlı araba metaforunu pek beğendim.

[Pinar G · Rating 3 out of 5]

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