Term Paper

Jennifer Palomino

Professor Rodriguez

PHI 102

Part I

Buddha:

Main Issue:  The Buddha acknowledges that for one to exist, one must suffer. One can achieve the end of suffering but one must also know the origins of their suffering and must grasp the fact that to exist is to suffer. One can achieve the cessation of suffering or the least amount of suffering by following the eight fold path. So if we acknowledge the truth about our suffering, the origins of our suffering, and follow the eight fold path, we can achieve the cessation of suffering.

1.  Premise: “The first noble truth is that existence is suffering” (456.2.).

2. Premise: “The third noble truth is that the cessation of suffering is attainable” (457.4.).

3. Premise: “The fourth noble truth describes the path to the cessation of suffering” (457.5).

4. Therefore, by acknowledging that to live is to suffer and by following the eight fold path, the cessation of suffering is attainable.

Premise 1: “The first noble truth is that existence is suffering” (456.2.).

Buddha meant that we must grasp the fact that by simply just breathing, we are suffering. Also, he incorporates the role of the five aggregates. They are form, feeling, perception, consciousness, and thought. The Buddha uses these five aggregates to explain that they all contribute to our suffering or to why and how we suffer. Also: “According to Buddha, suffering takes many forms and is the most the central aspect of existence” (456.2.). This statement from the Buddha helps realize how the aggregates really play a role in our suffering. The five aggregates are a variety of concepts who show that indeed, “suffering takes many forms” (456.2.).

My example involves incorporating the aggregate of thought. When it comes to thought, Buddha explains that as humans we tend to naturally over think everything. For example, say I was a dancer waiting to get on stage to perform a solo piece. Before my performance, I would be over thinking and mentally torturing myself. I would be constantly imagining the choreography and various scenarios of how my performance would go. Will I fall flat on my face? Will I mess up every move? Will I ruin my outfit? Or Will I nail every move? Will I get a standing ovation? This constant stream of questions is a great example of how over thinking can bring us suffering. Also, by acknowledging that I suffer because I over think, it is similar to acknowledging that to live is to suffer.

Premise 2: “The third noble truth is that the cessation of suffering is attainable” (457.4.).

The Buddha means that after we acknowledge that to live is to suffer, then there is the possibility that we can stop that suffering or attain the least amount of suffering. I think this also means that we have to first understand the second noble truth; which states that: “the cause of suffering is craving” (456.3.). This means that our suffering comes from a place of desire or as the Buddha says, our cravings; then, when we know our cravings or desires, we can then take action to begin the process of attaining cessation of suffering.

My example would be going back to the hypothetical situation of me being a dancer waiting to perform. The origin of my mental torment comes from my DESIRE to do well on my performance. So then this desire to do well is what allows me to start criticizing myself in every possible way; even before I get on stage. Thus, this desire causes my suffering of overthinking. When I realize my origin of suffering then I can relax my thoughts, relax my whole body and mind and then I can be calm to go out on stage and perform.

Premise 3: “The fourth noble truth describes the path to the cessation of suffering” (457.5.).

Buddha means that if we want to end our suffering then the only way to do that is to follow the eight fold path. The path serves as a guide that lists out eight concepts which are to follow the right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and equanimity. Buddha explains that: “if followed, it leads eventually to the cessation of delusion, ignorance, craving, and the cycle of rebirth” (457.5.). This means that each concept should be achieved chronologically and if they are ultimately achieved, then you will have ended your suffering.

My example of this third premise would be a robber who gets caught by the police. The robber can achieve to end his suffering and make his life right by following the eight fold path. By following his right view he would be acknowledging that he did steal and it was wrong. His right thought would be that he should be punished. His right speech would be admitting out loud the truth about what he did and why he did it. His right action would be dealing with the consequences. His right livelihood would be to learn from his mistake and not steal again. His right effort would be to try to resist to stealing. His right mindfulness would be to learn from his mistake and to use that lesson as a reminder to why he should not steal again. Finally, his equanimity would be to carry on with his life and to not steal again.

Conclusion: By acknowledging that to live is to suffer and by following the eight fold path, cessation of suffering is attainable.

The Buddha means that now when a person fully grasps the fact that to live is to suffer, they can then move forward to learning about their origins of suffering. Then, after the origins of their suffering, they can use the eight fold path as their guide to achieve cessation of suffering.

My example would be the robber. The robber’s suffering was caused by stealing; his stealing was caused by his desire to obtain something that was not his. Thus, the desire was the origin of his suffering. Now that he knows his origin of suffering, he can then follow the eight fold path to end his suffering and to make sure he does not steal again.

 

Mill:

Main Issue: Mill writes about how the world should be. He explains that happiness is pleasure and that everything we do is to reach that common goal that we all have, which is happiness. He also states that if we do what is morally right then we will eventually achieve the goal of happiness.

1. Premise: The right way to act is to produce the greatest amount of happiness overall.

2. Premise: In the best world, the individual’s happiness will be found in doing what is morally right.

3. Therefore,“According to the principle of utility, we should attempt to produce the greatest balance of happiness over unhappiness” (496.1.).

Premise 1: The right way to act is to produce the greatest amount of happiness overall.

What Mill means is that every action or pleasurable thing that we want to achieve, it should be achieved just because the act of doing it brings us pleasure. Or in Mill’s words, it brings us happiness; “Mill, then, unlike Bentham, distinguishes between happiness and mere sensual pleasure” (496.2.). This shows that Mill believed that the right way to act correlates with the quality of pleasure or pain we attain; and Mill focused on the quality of pleasure or pain, not the extremities or quantity of them.

For example, when it comes to conditioning for fighting, every exercise done will be working toward my improvement in the ring. Thus, I make these decisions to become a better fighter, and I am making these decisions because they will help me land a punch on my opponent and therefore it would bring me happiness overall.

Premise 2: In the best world, the individual’s happiness will be found in doing what is morally right.

What Mill means is that to achieve our happiness in our society, we are achieving it because we are doing what is considered morally right or good. Thus, by making the right or good decisions and by acting in a good or morally right way; we are then achieving happiness and benefitting our society and making the “best world”.

For example, by training hard, I become a better fighter in the ring. Thus, by achieving my happiness of becoming a better fighter I become a happier and a more confident person. Thus, this benefits society because my daily interactions with people can make a difference in small ways with just the way my attitude is. This happens because I made the right decisions and actions to train hard so I could attain my happiness of becoming a better fighter.

Conclusion: Every action or decision we make is to attain our common goal of happiness.

What Mill means is that everything we do in our life is to attain happiness. Even if we make bad decisions or even if we change our path in life, the only thing or goal at the end of everyone’s path is happiness. Everything we do is to some type of pleasure, as well as happiness.Mill first states that what is important are that we do in life is to attain happiness. What Mill means is that any action or decision we make that allows us to feel any type of pleasure; it is an action or decision that basically also brings us happiness. Thus, happiness is our pleasure

For example, I box and whenever I get in the ring to spar someone, I am hoping to do good. So, every punch that I throw or every punch that I block should be successful. In other words, if I successfully land a right hand on my opponent, I will fell pleasure because I did something good. Thus, this pleasure that comes from landing the punch is what makes me happy; because it makes me happy, then it is my happiness. Also, I train hard because I want to become a better fighter. I want to become a better fighter because I want to land punches in the ring. I want to land punches in the ring because I want to win my fights. I want to win my fights because I want to be my own champion. I want to be my own champion because I know I succeeded at something I love. I want to succeed at something I love because I want to be happy. Thus, the fact that Mill makes, I did everything so I could achieve my happiness.

When clashing these two philosophers together, it can be said that the cessation of suffering leads to the ultimate goal of achieving happiness.The topic of achieving the cessation of suffering and thus achieving happiness relates to a just society because of how happiness is portrayed in today’s society. It is portrayed by the media and by the majority of people that happiness is every human beings ultimate goal in life. Many people do just about anything to achieve attaining their happiness. Being happy is also a part of being a healthy human being and being a healthy human being contributes to how you will act or give to the world around you.I believe that by following the eight fold path, cessation of suffering is attainable, that the cessation of suffering will lead to your happiness, and that everyone lives to be happy.

The eight fold path paints a picture of the kind of path in life that many humans strive to follow. What I mean by this is that many people hope to follow a relaxed and stress free life. The eight rights or components of the eight fold path are similar to the types of actions that we hope to fulfill in our daily lives. Many of us would like to be as honest as we could be, to be concentrated and determine on the right things, etc. This also shows that the desire to have this kind of life can lead us to our ultimate goal of achieving happiness. By following the rightful/eight fold path, we are working towards ending our suffering and growing as human beings. In other words, we are working towards ending suffering and improving the certain areas in our daily lives that we see need improvement or that need to be corrected.

As I said, I believe that the eight fold path represents the path of life that many humans strive to follow. This shows that because people would like to follow that kind of path, the majority of people do wish to be happy. The hope to also achieve a path of life like the eight fold path also speaks to the extent or the way that people go about at achieving their goals. Whether those goals are short term or long term many would end up explaining that they achieve these goals so they could be happy. For example, when we discussed Mill in class, the professor started to ask certain students about their goals and why they went about achieving their goals. Each explanation led to another goal and the last goal or result of why they were achieving those particular goals is because they wanted to be happy.

To clarify, I strongly believe the definition of being happy can be different for everyone. Some see happiness as being rich, having many cars, and a huge house. Others see happiness as being at peace with themselves and those around them. Then there are those who believe being happy is living a life with no regrets and living a life that you loved. My reason is very similar to Mill’s conclusion. I use Mill as an example because my conclusion derives from his conclusion which is that every step we take in life contributes to our happiness. Also, I believe that my reason ties in a lot with society’s portrayal of happiness. For example, in many different types of media outlets, the aspect of a person achieving happiness, especially after going through a struggle, is something majority of people can relate to. The media and today’s society has helped shape our perception that everything we do in life contributes to attaining our ultimate goal of being happy.

Buddha would say that my reasons are most likely a tiny bit misguided or skewed. Instead of believing that the cessation of suffering will lead to happiness, Buddha would claim that the cessation of suffering leads to just that: the cessation of suffering. The resulting feeling of the cessation of suffering could be different to others. Some could feel peace, relieve, or happiness. An aspect of my thesis that the Buddha would agree with is that the way you feel after you have achieved the cessation of suffering, is most likely due to a balance of your suffering and happiness. Like Buddha states: “The path laid out is a middle way between excessive indulgence in pleasure and excessive denial of pleasure.” Thus, if the eight fold path is followed, you would have achieved the cessation of suffering and the balance between too much and too little pleasure in your life.

Mill would say that my reasons are slightly correct. Mill would explain that the eight fold path that leads to the cessation of suffering is just another goal or step in the long list of goals that we have to achieve in order to attain our ultimate goal of being happy.  That also means that the eight rights that the Buddha lays outs in the eight fold path for us to follow can also be seen as eight mini goals or steps that will help us towards achieving our happiness. For example, one of the eight rights mentioned by the Buddha is the right effort. I will use the example that I used in part one of the paper. I am a fighter and I put in the effort of training hard and eating right so my performance in the ring can be a good one. It is not just any effort, it is the right effort because it is the type of effort that will allow me to be happy and that is the ultimate goal.

I would say that my reasons and overall conclusion is correct. When I consider the perspectives of Mill and Buddha and tie them together, it is possible to be happy by ending your suffering. Of course I also believe that to follow the eight fold path is a very difficult task to do. We are all human and we all make mistakes but I do believe that the majority of us try to be the best person we can be. Also I would like to emphasize on how the definition of happiness is different for everyone. I believe that happiness is following a life that you are proud of and a life where you have followed your heart. Another thing I would like to acknowledge is that even though the cessation of suffering can lead us to happiness; I believe that suffering should still be acknowledged as a presence in the mist of our happiness. What I mean by this is that I believe that we should acknowledge the suffering that we have been through and realize that there still could be suffering because life is not 100 percent perfect.

Yet, there are those who would object to my “theory” or conclusion. One of the major objections to my thesis would be that happiness is more of an emotion that is felt at a certain time or place instead of a lifelong goal that everyone strives to achieve. For example, let’s say a person wins a first place trophy in a writing competition. That person is going to feel the emotion of being happy but then he or she is then going to move onto the next goal or thing that she has to achieve. So this shows that happiness is just something felt in a moment and then people calm down and build towards something else. My response to this is that happiness can be defined as an emotion that is felt in only moments but happiness that is    defined as being the ultimate goal of life can also be called joy. I see joy to be defined as an eternal happiness that is everlasting. It is a feeling of fulfillment and that you have lived a life that you are proud of.

Part one helps me explain in detail Buddha and Mill and how their philosophy eventually helps to explain my thesis in part two. The breakdown of Buddha in part one allows to see how the cessation of suffering is attainable. By acknowledging that the cessation of suffering is possible, then it supports my thesis in part two. If the cessation of suffering is possible then there is also the possibility of achieving our ultimate goal to attain happiness. The breakdown of Mill and his philosophy in part one helps to explain how happiness is portrayed and the role it plays in our daily lives. By stating that we live our lives to be happy and that every action we take contributes to achieving our goal of happiness; we can conclude that the Buddha’s eight fold path helps towards achieving Mill’s idea that happiness is our ultimate goal in life.