Money and happiness Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Money and happiness - Research Paper Example Also, it has been observed that with an increase in the wealth of a state, the individual happiness hasn’t increased to the same extent. Thus, it may be concluded that happiness increases with the increase in wealth but not at the same rate. To further analyze the argument, the works of Kesebir, Easterlin and Lane will be studied so that logical conclusion can be deduced. Kesebir (6) explores the rationale and logic behind happiness; that is how to find true happiness and what truly comprises of the notion of happiness. He is of the view that the idea of happiness has evolved over the years where it was equated with luck during the Homeric era, transformed to pleasure during the enlightenment era and can be equated with an act as little as owning a warm puppy in the contemporary era. However, the idea of happiness in its essence may not be as simple as that. In this context, over time contrasting views have been presented to explain what may constitute a happy life. Democritus argued that happiness is more of one`s state of mind, while Socrates and Plato disagree with this presumption and rather ought to give an objective meanings to happiness, i.e. virtue and goodness of life. On the other hand, the hellinistic view disregards virtue as a yardstick of happiness. In the enlightenment era, when a more secular shape was regarded to the concept of happi ness, ideas like maximum utility and pleasure principal began over-shadowing the explanation to what may be called a happy life. Though the philosophers in the field agree on the difficulty associated with the idea of understanding the true definition of happiness, they have come up with a few parameters which may help in explaining the concept. Kesebir (8) regards that these parameters include life satisfaction, satisfaction with significant domains of life, positive effect and lower levels of negative effect.

Hispanic American Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Hispanic American Diversity - Essay Example Within this umbrella term â€Å"Hispanic† there are various sub groups, usually defined by the origins of the first immigrants to the USA. Mexicans form the largest group, who make up more than half of the total, followed by the Puerto Ricans, who make up about a 10%, and then the Cubans who only represent about 3.5%. The situation is complicated by the often vague definitions and usage of the two words â€Å"Hispanic† and â€Å"Latino† or â€Å"Latina† which sometimes refer to different groups, and sometimes are used interchangeably. For the purposes of this paper the term â€Å"Hispanic Americans† will be used to refer to all those who share the cultural heritage which originated in Spain and was transported to the southern parts of the American continent. Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans and Cuban Americans are terms used to refer to people whose family origins are clearly from those particular countries. The term Latino American will be used to refer to those who have some connection with the Hispanic culture which is not specifically tied to the above named three groups. Many third and fourth generation Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans and other Hispanic Americans have parents from more than one cultural heritage, or themseleve marry into different cultural groups and absorb much of mainstream American culture. These people lose their specific cultural ties to the home of their older relatives but many of them still retain elements of a more generalised Hispanic culture. This last group will be referred to as â€Å"Latino Americans†. Relations between the USA and Mexico have been been economically tied together from the very beginning. In the first half of the twentieth century Mexicans arrived in large numbers seeking a better life and at first their focus was to recreate their homeland family and religious life in the cities of the southern states of America. The Depression of the 1920s resulted in rates of immigration being curbed for a time, and this allowed