Part 3 - Educating for Public Life
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 June 2009
Summary
How might public life contribute to the happiness of individuals? If we are honest, most of us will admit that we derive little actual pleasure or fulfillment from our role as citizens. Similarly, many of us would not place community or civic life high on our list of sources of happiness. Still, life in a liberal democracy may contribute significantly, if indirectly, to human flourishing, and we will try to spell out its significance. Participating in the life of a healthy community may also add to our happiness, and for some people such participation is a major source of satisfaction. The discussion of community will give us an opportunity to revisit the topic of friendship at what Aristotle called the incomplete level.
There can be no question, however, about the importance of finding work in which we are happy. This part of public life – an occupation – is probably second only to home and family in making us happy or miserable. A fortunate few find happiness in both occupation and home life. The question in Part 3 is how education can promote happiness in occupational life and, more generally, in our public lives as neighbors and citizens. We'll start with occupational life.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Happiness and Education , pp. 195 - 196Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2003