Where does happiness come from? Selected readings from Ross Gay, Epictetus, and Nikki Giovanni
“I appreciate the knowledge, breadth, and care in the Premise discussions. Also, the attention to details during the discussion is commendable. The world needs more of this.”
Premise students bring discussion questions to each class. Here’s a selection of the questions from our class on “Where does happiness come from?”
To what degree is happiness inseparable from an awareness of pain?
I was really lost reading “Hole in the Head" in the Ross Gay essays. What does this essay say about delight if anything? Any insights?
Ross Gay (p. 49) joy is “entering and joining with the terrible”- what does this mean?
How do we discern the difference between what we don't have control over (other people's perceptions) and what we perhaps *should* struggle against?
What are the impressions that Epictetus talks about? Are they thoughts, feelings, ideas, decisions, or something else? Does it make a difference if he means one of those things or another?
Curious how to understand this section: “What would have become of Hercules, do you think, if there had been no lion, hydra, stag or boar – and no savage criminals to rid the world of? What would he have done in the absence of such challenges? Obviously, he would have just rolled over in bed and gone back to sleep. So by snoring his life away in luxury and comfort he never would have developed into the mighty Hercules.”
I wonder how Ross Gay and Nikki Giovanni trained themselves to see delight, joy, and happiness in a world that is so filled with horrible things like racism and white supremacy.
