Blog Post 3 (The Materialist to The Pragmatist, and Your Life)

Is Karl Marx’s theory of alienation a valid concept?

Karl Marx proposed that alienation happens when a worker does not feel “at one” with the fruits of their labor, an alienated worker feels detached from themselves and frustrated (Section 13-4).

Yes, I do think that the feeling of alienation at one’s job is real and that it can contribute to one’s happiness.

When a person is unhappy with their job they become unhappy with themselves and in the other aspects of their life. Feeling alienated at work happens for many possible reasons. For instance: when a person receives no feeling of fulfillment from their work; when a person feels like they do not matter to a company; when a person works at a job only because of the money it provides (Section 13-4).

Why do I think that the concept of alienation is valid?

When I worked for years as a dental assistant, I felt alienated.

Why did I feel alienated when I worked as a dental assistant?

It is a stressful, fast paced, physically demanding job, and it seemed most dental assistants in general felt alienated. The usual turn around for assistants is high. I believe it is due to their alienation and the lack of happiness they feel at their job, as well as the lack of appreciation. They are the backbones of the dental office and it could not run without them, yet they are overworked and underappreciated greatly. I was always made to feel guilty for taking time off, my happiness never seemed of importance to the doctors. They were always more concerned with how much money the office is making. I was often urged to work if I was sick, not to take time off unless absolutely necessary, and was still made to feel guilty about it even then. I got into the field because I wanted to help people, but I received no feeling of fulfillment because I was being used only as a “means” and not an “end.” The cherry on top of the reason I agree with the concept of alienation is the reason I chose to stay and endure my own unhappiness for so many years as a dental assistant. Why did I choose to stay? The reason was based entirely on the fact that it paid well.

Since then I have moved on to a job that I am well appreciated for, and not taken advantage of in any way. I have a job where I have the opportunity to learn new things constantly, and I get appreciated for my hard work. Money is no longer the sole reason I have the job that I do. It is much more meaningful work to me. I am happier in general and my happiness is much more stable. My future now feels bright rather than dark. I no longer feel alienated, and these experiences have illustrated to me the concept of alienation and the detrimental effects it can have on a person. Alienation is valid, and refusing to subject yourself to a job that alienates you, is a key to happiness.

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Blog Post 2 (The Skeptics to The Utilitarian, and Your Life)

Do I agree with John Stuart Mill’s concept of happiness?

Yes, I agree with Mill’s refined Utilitarianism. Mill extended Jeremy Benthem’s principle of utility by adding the idea of quality; he classified pleasures as either higher or lower, refined or crude (Section 12-10a). Mill said, in Utilitarianism, that he believed it is important to “assign the pleasures of the intellect, of the feelings and imagination, and of the moral sentiments, a much higher value as pleasure than those of mere sensation (Section 12-5).” I agree with Mill in his belief that it is necessary to differentiate between qualities of pleasures to obtain the most happiness in life. I agree with this because higher pleasures have brought me more happiness in life.

Several years ago I preferred the lower pleasures in life, such as going out and drinking with friends. I also worked at a dead-end job as a dental assistant that involved no intellectual growth. I was content with making only enough to pay my bills and go out to have fun. Gradually I began to realize, although I didn’t feel unhappy, I was feeling unfulfilled in life and I began to make some changes. I got an administrative assistant job at an accounting office where I learn something new every day. At the same time I went back to school to continue my education. For the last couple years I have realized the benefits of the higher pleasures, especially intellectual pleasures. I no longer have time for going out and drinking. Instead, I work a lot more and spend much of my free time doing school work. The lower pleasures I used to fill my life with may be easily obtained, but I have found a better quality of happiness from these intellectual activities. Therefore, I would consider them superior to the lesser pleasures of having fun with friends and drinking.

How do I truly know that the higher pleasures have brought me more happiness than the lower pleasures? I know because I have decided from thorough experience with both types of pleasures that higher pleasures of intellect have provided me with more happiness than the lower pleasures. According to Mill, “only those fully acquainted with two pleasures can decide which, if either, is better (Section 12-5).” I think this is a very important rule for judgment in general. If you have never been in a certain situation, how can you be a proper judge of its superiority or inferiority over another situation? I am fully acquainted with both of these pleasures and have decided from first-hand experience with both, that the intellectual pleasure of school is indeed a higher pleasure than the lower pleasure of going out and drinking with friends. Reviving my thirst for knowledge, and quenching that thirst has been the most uplifting pleasure of my adult life. No amount of drinking and fun with friends has ever given me the feeling of fulfillment I get from my job and from school. The higher pleasures may require more work, and are harder to secure than the lesser pleasures, but I agree with Mill that they produce a higher quality of happiness and therefore have a higher value (Section 12-5b).

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Blog Bost 1 (The Philosopher King to the Rationalist, and Your Life)

Over the last few years of my adult life, I have adopted some of the practices of Stoicism, but is it a beneficial way to live my life?

Stoicism is “a philosophy that counsels self-control, detachment, and acceptance of one’s fate as identified by the objective use of reason… Rather than pursue pleasure and trying to avoid pain, the stoic seeks serenity (peace of mind) through self-discipline…Stoics believe that nothing can make you happy or unhappy without your consent” (Chapter 7 Introduction). “Stoicism is a ‘mature’ philosophy in that its appeal seems to increase with experience—that is, with frustration and disappointment. Growing up emotionally and philosophically involves adopting realistic expectations and accepting one’s limits.” (Section 7-8f). “The Stoics learned, as many of us do, that our lives are not entirely our own… Rather than complain about what they could not control, the Stoics chose to master what they could: their own minds. By mastering their thoughts, they believed, they could master their feelings. Stoics believed that serenity comes to that individual whose will is in accord with the World Reason, the Logos, for right thinking leads to a reduction of frustration and anxiety” (Section 7-7).

Yes, practicing Stoicism is a beneficial way to live my life because it brings me more happiness and less anxiety.

I am the sole administrative assistant for a growing tax and accounting office. We are in the middle of our busy season due to income taxes. The days only get longer and the work load only gets heavier until we get past the deadline. It is an extremely stressful time of year for everyone in the office and I have relied on Stoic practices to remain happy even through these intensely strenuous few months. I get yelled at over the phone by clients at my job, I get pressure from co-workers and clients to complete tasks as quickly as possible, and I have to work overtime for about a month before the tax deadline. Even under these circumstances, I do not get upset or unhappy thanks to practicing Stoicism.

I practice self-control and do not allow yelling, attitude, heavy work load, or mandatory overtime to change my behavior or make me unhappy. I realize and accept the fact that I have no control over the situation and only have control over myself and how to handle the situation going forward. I think that no amount of anxiety, anger, or sadness can change the past, it can only make a person unhappy in the present and/or future. Practicing detachment allows me to leave work at work and not bring any of the stress home with me, which also brings me more happiness and less anxiety.

I think that this is a much happier approach to dealing with confrontation because I have handled it differently in the past. As a teenager I worked as a server in a restaurant. I would find myself being treated poorly by angry customers, often with no provocation. I allowed this to have a negative effect on me. I would get stressed out, worried, and upset when someone would yell at me. I would allow it affect me for the rest of me shift and even for the rest of the day. I think that if I was to have that stressful job now, I could be perfectly happy even in those negative confrontations due to the practices of Stoicism. I think having control over your mind and practicing detachment allows you to be happy and have less anxiety even in trying situations.

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