Four Meditations on Happiness

(Hardback, Main)

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In this original and thought-provoking book philosopher Michael Hampe sets out to help us understand happiness. The right and proper path to a happy life is a topic that has been debated for millennia. There are many theories, from ancient philosophy to modern neuroscience, but can any one of them ultimately tell us how the objective of a perfectly fulfilled life might be achieved By telling the story of two friends -the unhappy philosopher Stanley Low and the happy gardener Gabriel Kolk - alongside a presentation of four essays that examine prominent and very plausible theories about happiness, Michael Hampe illustrates that there is no easy answer to our search for unadulterated bliss. Four Meditations on Happiness is an erudite and illuminating investigation into one of mankind's most elusive quests, one that allows us to reconsider what it means to be happy.

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This is a work in the tradition - albeit with more varied arguments - of the Stoics, Marcus Aurelius and others. High praise. Moreover, it's very easy to read. * Times Higher Education *

Author Bio

Michael Hampe studied philosophy, psychology and literature in Heidelberg and Cambridge, where he ultimately earned his degree in biology with a focus on human biology and human genetics. He was a Visiting Professor at Trinity College, Dublin 1990-1992, Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Kassel from 1997-1999 and from 1999-2003, he was Professor of Philosophy at the Otto-Friedrich University, Bamberg. Since 2003, Michael Hampe has been Professor of Philosophy at Zurich's ETH.