.

400 articles – use SEARCH for subjects you are interested in

NB – All the newest posts are below this continuously evolving ‘Introduction’

-0-

Art: Science: Education: Photography: Humour: Spirituality: Philosophy: Humanity – an Introduction to ‘1000 ways………’

.

Celebrating the human spirit is positive, and anyway it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

In celebrating the human spirit we can also enjoy humour that is made possible from our foolish ways. Humour is a balm and gives us experience and healing that’s a bit like art or true spirituality.

What matters is whether we are fair, kind, creative, truth-telling and wise. Personally I don’t care whether a person is an atheist or religious.  What good things they produce is what matters.

Why 1000 ways?  Well there are many paths to the top of a mountain, but only one summit.

We either believe in a unitive force behind the universe, of which we are all one infinitesimal part, or we believe that chaos reigns supreme.  It doesn’t matter what we believe – what matters is what we do with what we believe.

We are what we think.  All that we are arises with our thoughts.  With our thoughts, we make our world.  (Buddha)

4th July 2009

Celebrating the good things about the human spirit is positive – and anyway it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

.

In celebrating the human spirit we can also enjoy humour that is made possible from our ‘foolish ways’.  Humour is a balm that gives us experience and healing that’s a bit like art, or true spirituality, or carnivals.

.

What matters is whether we are fair, kind, creative, truth-telling and wise.  Such virtues define the depth of our humanity.

.

Personally I don’t care whether a person is an atheist or a religionist.  What ‘good things’ each person produces is what matters.  Regretably many religions and belief sustems don’t lead to light and love because they are corrupted with hypocrisy, manipulation and fundamentalism and a host of such curses.  The best of religion is love and light.

.

Why 1000 ways?  Well there are many paths to the top of a mountain, but only one summit.

.

We either believe in a unitive force behind the universe, of which we are all one infinitesimal part, or we believe that chaos reigns supreme.  It doesn’t matter what we believe – what matters is what we do with what we believe.

.

WHAT ARE WE?

.

“We are what we think.  All that we are arises with our thoughts.  With our thoughts, we make our world”. (Buddha)

.

We are a manifestation of energy – or if you prefer we are each a large bunch of atoms through which the life-force flows.

.

4th July 2009

Isn’t this ’sidewalk chalk guy’ brilliant!

via gprime.net

Click on link to see a range of his pictures.

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Overweight? Want to slim? Want your real self back? Want to be inspired? Want to see the video?

See the transformation in the Large Fella who went from 501 lbs to 170 lbs through buying and seriously using a bike!

I still can’t work out from his site what he did food wise – other than eat healthy stuff.

His blog is really about learning to like himself and live truthfully.

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Do you value freedom? – please add your voice to Julia Roberts, Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney and Bono’s support for Aung San Suu Kyi

Hi All

I’ve just sent my  message of support to Burma’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

Add yours here: http://www.64forsuu.org/

A simple greeting will do.

Aung San Suu Kyi has now been imprisoned by Burma’s brutal regime for over 13 years. 64forSuu.org is a website where celebrities, politicians and the public from all over the world are coming together to send birthday messages of support to the world’s only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Johnny Chatterton Project Manager 64forSuu.org says;

Dear Friend,

 Today UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon arrived in Burma, as the regime once more delayed Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial. When he arrived Ban Ki-Moon said it was his top priority to secure the release of all of Burma’s political prisoners – this is a breakthrough for us as that’s what we’ve been campaigning for him to do for many months.

We need to ensure that Ban turns words into action. The regime is hoping that by stringing out Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial the world will forget her; we can’t let that happen. We need tens of thousands of people across the world to show that they haven’t forgotten her by demanding that the regime release Suu Kyi and all of Burma’s political prisoners at http://www.64forSuu.org

The global movement calling for the release of Suu Kyi has never been stronger. With over 16,000 messages, and the backing of political leaders, major celebrities  such as Julia Roberts, Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney and Bono, 64forSuu.org has demonstrated the scale of global outrage. Over a hundred thousand people support her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/aungsansuukyi, and thousands are supporting her on Twitter (by using the hashtag #ASSK64 Twitter). 
 
TAKE ACTION: LET’S KEEP THE PRESSURE UP
Aung San Suu Kyi is Burma’s most high profile political prisoners but  across Burma there are 2,154 other political prisoners enduring appalling conditions inside Burma’s squalid prisons. They face brutal torture, are banned from receiving family visits and denied proper medical care. Please go tohttp://www.64forSuu.org now and leave a message calling for their release.
 
With your help we can show that no matter what the regime trys the world will never forget Burma’s brave political prisoners.
 
Thank you,
 
http://www.64forSuu.org

PS: If you’re not already, please become a supporter of Aung San Suu Kyi on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aungsansuukyi

 

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Dear Gordon, Dave & Nick 14 Ground Rules for Respectful Dialogue and Professional Behavior

Dear Gordon, Dave and Nick

.

Any chance you could instill your MPs with these 14 Ground Rules – not just when they communicate with each other but when they communicate with those who elect them?

.

These rules provide a framework that support open, respectful, dialogue, and enable maximum participation for discussing controversial subjects.

1. Listen Actively – respect others when they are talking and do not interrupt.
2. Treat others’ feelings with respect and dignity. Do not dominate the conversation.
3. Speak from your own experience instead of generalizing. One way to do this is to use ‘I’ instead of “they,” “We,” and “you”.
4. Speak about problem(s) directly with the person(s) involved and avoid complaining to others about the problem.
5. Be candid and honest, but do not blame, attack, embarrass, or put-down other people.
6. Ask questions respectfully for clarification or to get information, but not to intimidate.
7. Refrain from personal attacks — focus on ideas and core issues rather than personalities. Attack the idea or the problem, not the person.
8. Participate to the fullest of your ability — a cooperative spirit and team progress depends on the inclusion of every individual voice.
9. Instead of invalidating somebody else’s story with your own spin on their experience, share your own story and experience.
10. The goal is not to always agree — it is about hearing and exploring divergent perspectives. Examine consequences and consider alternatives.
11. As we think about the past, focus on  the lessons we have learned from the past. Focus on the future that you would like to create.
12. Be conscious of body language and nonverbal response — they can be disrespectful as words. This is specially true when working with people that come from different cultures and backgrounds. 
13. Take responsibility for observing the ground rules.
14. Negotiate agreement of  your own ground rules that work well for your team.
    

via dodeja.posterous.com

Thanks dodeja

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Weight-loss – from 501bs to 181lbs – and he writes/wrote one of the best blogs I’ve ever read

Large Fella on a Bike

<a href="%20http://istanbultea.typepad.com/largefellaonabike“>Large Fella on A Bike is the blog of a man on a mission: he’s gone from 501 pounds (and was told he would die without surgery) to 181 pounds without that surgery. By changing his lifestyle and riding a custom-made bike, this fella has changed his whole life, and that of others around him. He grew out his goatee until he broke into the 100’s of pounds (to his wife’s amusment and chagrin.) He’s still getting used to the new body he calls home.

Check out his progress photos from his journey, too. (And the progress of the bike itself!) Whoever says they can’t do something, you may want to rethink that whole philosophy.

Visit Large Fella on A Bike.

via featured.typepad.com

MY COMMENT: Funny, very funny posts – great humanity that has tipped into a kind of falsifying modesty. As fine a blog as the late lamented NightJack destroyed by contemptible people at the Times.

Click on links – especially check out his progress photos! Wow!

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Do you want fair voting in the UK? – check out this rally and join up with ‘voteforachange.co.uk’

Politics is now too important to be left to the politicians. At the next election I want to be able to cast my vote for a new parliament and a new politics.

 

	Dear Supporter,    Thousands of people have already joined the call the call for change. If you haven’t already, join today at www.voteforachange.co.uk   But we know that the government have their own kind of change in mind. We must ensure that it’s the interests of voters and not the politicians that win out in the debate ahead.   So keep your diary free for 6:30, July 9th, as supporters gather in Methodist Central Hall to call for real reform of parliament.   Already Damon Albarn, Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Fry and a long list of others are demanding the right to vote for a change. But we need your help to get over 1000 people together in Westminster for the Vote for Change Rally, featuring music, poetry and the chance to put leading politicians on the spot. More details will follow soon but this is definitely an event not to be missed.    To register now or for more details email Naomi@voteforachange.co.uk The campaign is busy preparing a dedicated campaign centre. One of the best ways you can keep up to date with the campaign is on Facebook and Twitter Look forward to seeing you in Westminster.   Best regards, Ken Ritchie Chief Executive, Electoral Reform Society

 

.

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Do you want fair voting in the UK? – check out this rally and join up with ‘voteforachange.co.uk’

Politics is now too important to be left to the politicians. At the next election I want to be able to cast my vote for a new parliament and a new politics.

 

	Dear Supporter,    Thousands of people have already joined the call the call for change. If you haven’t already, join today at www.voteforachange.co.uk   But we know that the government have their own kind of change in mind. We must ensure that it’s the interests of voters and not the politicians that win out in the debate ahead.   So keep your diary free for 6:30, July 9th, as supporters gather in Methodist Central Hall to call for real reform of parliament.   Already Damon Albarn, Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Fry and a long list of others are demanding the right to vote for a change. But we need your help to get over 1000 people together in Westminster for the Vote for Change Rally, featuring music, poetry and the chance to put leading politicians on the spot. More details will follow soon but this is definitely an event not to be missed.    To register now or for more details email Naomi@voteforachange.co.uk The campaign is busy preparing a dedicated campaign centre. One of the best ways you can keep up to date with the campaign is on Facebook and Twitter Look forward to seeing you in Westminster.   Best regards, Ken Ritchie Chief Executive, Electoral Reform Society

 

.

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Do you want fair voting in the UK? – check out this rally and join up with ‘voteforachange.co.uk’

Politics is now too important to be left to the politicians. At the next election I want to be able to cast my vote for a new parliament and a new politics.

 

	Dear Supporter,    Thousands of people have already joined the call the call for change. If you haven’t already, join today at www.voteforachange.co.uk   But we know that the government have their own kind of change in mind. We must ensure that it’s the interests of voters and not the politicians that win out in the debate ahead.   So keep your diary free for 6:30, July 9th, as supporters gather in Methodist Central Hall to call for real reform of parliament.   Already Damon Albarn, Vivienne Westwood, Stephen Fry and a long list of others are demanding the right to vote for a change. But we need your help to get over 1000 people together in Westminster for the Vote for Change Rally, featuring music, poetry and the chance to put leading politicians on the spot. More details will follow soon but this is definitely an event not to be missed.    To register now or for more details email Naomi@voteforachange.co.uk The campaign is busy preparing a dedicated campaign centre. One of the best ways you can keep up to date with the campaign is on Facebook and Twitter Look forward to seeing you in Westminster.   Best regards, Ken Ritchie Chief Executive, Electoral Reform Society

 

.

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Did Einstein have a better idea of what’s good for our kids than fundamentalist scientists, or the wretched Brown government?

Title and source: Muybridge race-horse – WikiPedia

-0-

Science and scientific method (as part of the SunWALK model)

OUT THERE:

The sciences, and their corresponding ’scientific method’, is one of the three great groupings of culture and academia; the three being the Humanities, the Arts and the Sciences.

Each of the three has its own methods.  

Each is valid – within its sphere.

Each presents a different form of knowing and truth-telling and of engaging with reality.

IN HERE:

Our consciousness and ways of expressing ourselves, and of engaging with reality, develops in response to these three.   The shaping is called socialization and starts in babyhood.

Science and its methods is concerned with objective truth-telling

We learn to identify, count and group and classify.   These roots of the scientific process are then nurtured at school into command of Biology, Physics etc. – if we are lucky.

In order to provide a basis for developing education I developed the SunWALK model in which science and its methods is termed Criticality the IT voice of objective engagement, so termed by Ken Wilber.  Science isn’t the only activity in Criticality.  There are others including philosophy, and critical studies.  They all objectify.

The IT voice necessarily makes of things ‘objects’.  At the good end of objectification there is the genome project, and at the bad end is the Nazi de-humanization of Jews, Gypsies and the handicapped.

The other two voices are Creativity, the subjective ‘I’ voice of the Arts, and Caring, the moral ‘WE’ voice of the Humanities.

These three Cs are the only ways in which we express ourselves.  Physical expression is the servant of, and dependent on, all three Cs.  The 3Cs and the physical self together = the human spirit, the life-force.

GETTING OUR Cs IN A TWIST

The truth-telling of Science is demonstrable by repeatable experiment.

Art and the Humanities (including religion) on the other hand isn’t.  When it appears to be what’s being studied isn’t from art or the moral realm, it’s something else.  Criticism of art isn’t art it’s Criticality

Art is necessarily subjective – though judgements about it might be agreed by many.

But judgements are not art they belong to Criticality, based on beliefs and values in the Humanities.

And science can be perverted by it’s inappropriate application – this we call scientism.

Science can be deified, when its deemed to be the only worthy, legitimate way of engaging with reality.  

Science can have its own funamentalists – those who deny the reality of the arts and Humanities, including heart-knowing and mystical and artistic experience.

SOME SCIENTISTS ARE NOT BLINKERED OR FUNDAMENTALIST

Why did Einstein place imagination above scientific method and mystery above both?  

My answer is that he saw that humans were much more than glorified bean-counters and that reality was much more than the truth-telling that science can provide – vital and enormously beneficial though it is.

IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR THE EDUCATION WE PROVIDE FOR OUR CHILDREN?

We, and the education we provide our children, need to be a balance of Caring, Creativity and Criticality – all experienced of course in the Community/ies that hold the repositories of the Humanities, the Arts and the Sciences – and their methods.

This simply means base developing education on being human.  It’s risky – peace might break out, the few might lose their right to screw the many, famine might disappear.

To read more about the SunWALK model go HERE

Version as at 1st July 2009

—–0—–

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

How do we get rid of Tory-Labour Tribal politics? Lee Bryant in the Independent has some suggestions.

We are lucky to have a stable and relatively functional political system in the UK, for all the recent drama, and we should avoid throwing away that heritage in pursuit of change for its own sake.

But in addition to the obvious short-term challenge of rebuilding faith in our political and economic system, we face some difficult long-term issues that require 21st century solutions.

Faced with the plunder of the banks, their answer has been to bail out the bankers and hope (again) for trickle down effects, rather than invest in people and services to create value and wealth. They have spectacularly failed to deal with both boom and bust, and they continue pulling their big 20th century levers despite the fact these are no longer working. Although the government realises the internet has a key role to play, the recent Digital Britain report shows

just how little they understand the online world. Aside from the obvious conclusion that universal broadband (which should be 8Mb as a minimum) is a necessary enabler to an inclusive digital economy, the report seems firmly located in the 1990s world of ‘content providers’, copyright restrictions and network operators. We need to show the political elite what to do, and get on with fixing things before they get much worse.

Over the past decade, we have learned a lot about how network thinking and specifically the social web can dramatically reduce the costs of co-ordination and collective action, allowing new ways of involving people in organisational, democratic or social processes. Many people have argued that government and industry should take advantage of these innovations to create more people-powered organisations. Now, in the face of serious crises in both the economy and the political system, and in the middle of a recession that calls into question whether we can even afford ‘business as usual’, it is time to take a serious look at how we can leverage human talent, energy and creativity to begin rebooting the system to create sustainable, affordable, long-term mechanisms for public engagement.

We have been talking about e-government for years, and have made steady progress with some of the enablers, such as online service provision, the Government Gateway and a growing awareness among civil servants about online public engagement. But so far, this work has remained very much within existing organisational boundaries. It has focused on how to enable communication and limited interaction between government and citizens, but has not yet changed either the workings of government or the role of citizens in that process.

via license.icopyright.net

To read the full link click on the link

My comment: The key is to enable the politically alienated to have a vision of an alternative and see the things they can do to create that alternative. What is the vision? What are the understanding and tools that we all need to effect real, positive change?

The new media will play a major part – the formula of accumulated anger x expenses scandal x new media = a degree of complexity the like of which I’ve not previously seen.

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

UK Guardian newspaper asks us all to help put a face to each of those missing or detained since Iran’s election

via guardian.co.uk

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Are you interested in Freedom of Expression? – see the summary of the conference.

via expressionforum.org

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Bon Jovi Andy Madadian- video for Iran ‘Stand By Me’ – we are one

 “Stand by Me” On June 24, Iranian Superstar Andy Madadian went into an LA recording studio with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and American record producers Don Was and John Shanks to record a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran.

 “Stand by Me” On June 24, Iranian Superstar Andy Madadian went into an LA recording studio with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and American record producers Don Was and John Shanks to record a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran.

This version of the old Ben E. King classic is not for sale – it was not meant to be on the Billboard charts or even manufactured as a CD…..it’s intended to be downloaded and shared by the Iranian people…to give voice to the sentiment that all people of the world stand together….the handwritten Farsi sign in the video translates to “we are one”.

If you know someone in Iran – or someone who knows someone in Iran -

please share this link

 

CREDITS: STAND BY ME Andy – Vocals Jon Bon Jovi – Vocals Richie Sambora – Electric Guitar and Vocals John Shanks – Acoustic Guitar Don Was – Bass Patrick Leonard – Keyboards Jeff Rothchild – Drums Tiffany Madadian and Nikki Lund – Background Vocals Produced by Don Was & John Shanks Recorded and Mixed by Jeff Rothchild at Henson Studio C, Hollywood, CA June 24, 2009 Thanks to Faryal Ganjehei Written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller Farsi lyric by Paksima Zakipour Video Edited by Gemma Corfield Mastered by Stephen Marcussen

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

How many ways are there of expressing or denying truth?

I like the definition of art, given by Richard Anderson;

Art is culturally significant meaning, skilfully encoded in an affecting, sensuous medium.

I would want to add that

art =

the products of the imaginative power

to re-present subjectively not only the world around us,

but also inevitably the life of our inner world of consciousness.

I would also say that the definition should include ‘and personally’ so that it reads;

Art is culturally, and personally, significant meaning, skilfully encoded in an affecting, sensuous medium.

If it doesn’t connect for you – it ain’t art for you.  (Sometimes we have to make an effort.)

Art then always says something important about the human condition and, what it says, it says re-presentationally, that is via the subjective experience and viewpoint of the artist – using whatever is the chosen medium. It says;

‘this is how I experienced, or feel about, or see, or ‘read’ this phenomenon’.

Art then is truth expression in the ‘I’ voice – as opposed to scientific truth which is in the ‘IT’ voice (Sciences), and the moral truth of the ‘WE’ voice (Humanities).

Getting these mixed up is the cause of almost all of the world’s troubles.   Why?

Because they are three separate ways of truth-telling.  All are valid.

But they are limited because we need all three. If you try to work one in ways that rightfully belong to one of the other ways of truth-telling you get a monster – such as fundamentalism.

Of course fundamentalism is characterised by a range of factors including failure to recognise that metaphor trumps literalism, absolutist thinking, failure to recognize most holy scripture can only give approximate renditions of what was said, inability to proceed with live and let live, low tolerance to doubt and uncertainty………………..

Art and religion are the same in that they are accounts of an inner journey or an encounter – all such accounts are failures, some are glorious failures.

Why failures?  Well because they are inevitably metaphorical accounts of experiences that are literally ineffable.  Poets as well as people of religion try to express the experience, but the breaking point is the uniqueness of the subject, and subjectivity, that has had the experience.

Religion goes bad when spiritual-mystical accounts become tidied-up as ideologies – followed by a zealous few who decide that it is good to impose the ideology on others.

Most religions are dead husks of dogma from which the living inspiration has gone.

Fundamentalism is the constantly ramped-up desperation to impose deadened dogma on others.

When we try to deal with art or the spiritual-mystical scientifically we get scientism, or crude bean-counting.

Religion inevitably is supposed to be entirely subjective – the ineffable can’t be otherwise.

But the subjective, or heart-knowing, is a form of truth-telling, one that comes via consciousness and common compassionate humanity.

From this rising consciousness, and common compassionate humanity, we come to distinguish between the great seers and poets and mystics and the charlatans.

The great mystics and the great artists are there to reveal and inspire – via the compassionate bond of being human, in the world with others.

Right action of course must flow from the inspired being and revelation – ‘Ye shall know them by their fruit.’

I don’t care if you believe in fairies and space-ships – so long as you are just and bring to the world some goodness, truth and               beauty – preferably with a good dose of humour.

Without right action even if we are a bishop or mulla or guru we are hypocrites.

-0-

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Are we going to survive? Where does the new hope lie?

Frank Furedi in his 2006 article HERE says that the big question today is not whether humans will survive the twenty-first century, but whether our faith in humanity will survive it.

He says;

Renewing our faith in people

How we view humanity really matters. If we insist on seeing humans as morally degraded parasites, then every significant technical problem from the millennium bug to the avian flu will be feared as a potential catastrophe beyond our control. Today’s intellectual pessimism and cultural disorientation distracts the human imagination from confronting challenges that lie ahead. All the talk about human survival expresses a crisis of belief in humanity – and that is why the real question today is not whether humanity will survive the twenty-first century, but whether our belief in humanity can survive it.

He has assembled a powerful negative argument, but is less successful on assembling positives.

My own positive lies in always balancing teaching the technical with the context of what it means to be human.  From kindergartens to MA professional studies courses we should assert that we are human in our Caring, our Creativity and Criticality, and that we give and receive these in the various forms of humanity to which we belong.

 

Regrettably Spiked Essays appears to have been permanently spiked.  

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Are Animal rights less important than human rights asks Ian Dunt at politics.co.uk

The debate over animal welfare is misguided. Where human need clashes with animal rights, humans must take precedence.

By Ian Dunt

This week MEPs in the European parliament voted to allow the continued slaughter of animals under Muslim and Jewish practises – called halal and shechita respectively.

There is an animal welfare argument in all this. Religious commentators say the more traditional techniques used by their respective faith are actually more humane than the mass-production methods used across Britain. Animal rights activists cite the lack of a stun gun in the process, which instantly makes the animal unconscious before slaughter.

Both these stances leave me distinctly unmoved. I remain entirely indifferent to the suffering of animals as a political issue. That’s not to advocate cruelty. I would, of course, like all animals to be killed as humanely as scientifically possible. They should never undergo any further suffering than that necessary to support human needs. But when it comes to weighing animal rights and human needs, there’s no contest.

There is a certain cruelty in many animal rights activists – and their sympathisers – who value animal life to the point where they, consciously or subconsciously, rate it over humans.

via politics.co.uk

Click on link to read article.

MY COMMENT: If we made a good job of teaching what it is to be fully and positively human the care of animals would rise massively.

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

The coolest cat of a president ever……

via youtube.com

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Feeling zapped – where has Holism gone in our Twitteristic world? Where is that which makes a whole of Twit-bits?

Holism (from ὅλος holos, a Greek word meaning all, entire, total) is the idea that all the properties of a given system (physical, biological, chemical, social, economic, mental, linguistic, etc.) cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines in an important way how the parts behave.

The general principle of holism was concisely summarized by Aristotle in the Metaphysics: “The whole is more than the sum of its parts” (1045a10).

via en.wikipedia.org

Where is that which makes a whole of Twit-bits?

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous

Happiness: as subjective well-being Adrian G White

A Global Projection of Subjective Well-being:

A Challenge to Positive Psychology?

 

Adrian G. White, University of Leicester 

 

Rarely in recent years has a development in the field of academic psychology captured such widespread attention as the current developments in positive psychology on the topic of happiness.  Whilst academic investigation of something as intangible as happiness may seem at first surprising the age long search for happiness, a primary motive of human behaviour, has ensured a broader audience than psychologists usually attract.

 

The search for happiness is not new and neither is academic interest in the topic.  In 1776 the American Declaration of Independence argued for “certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” (The American Declaration of Independence, 1776, as cited in Hawke, 1964).  As such, nations have been formed on the basis of the search for happiness, and this desire has been put on a par with the right to life and the right to freedom.  In the U.K. interest in happiness was brought to widespread attention with the moral philosophy of Jeremy Bentham (1789) who argued that the purpose of politics should be to bring the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. 

 

Political interest in happiness has not diminished in modern times.  A recent survey (Easton, 2006) found that 81% of the UK population agreed that the Government’s primary objective should be the creation of happiness not wealth.  Earlier this year David Cameron, HM Leader of the Opposition, put happiness firmly on the political agenda by arguing that “It’s time we admitted that there’s more to life than money, and it’s time we focused not just on GDP, but on GWB – general well-being” (BBC, 2006). 

via le.ac.uk

Click on link to read article

Posted via web from sunwalking’s posterous