“When Life Asks for Everything”
In this editorial, David Brooks, an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, provides us with the insight for two models of human development. The first being what Aristotle called, “ The Four Kinds of Happiness”. This theory simply states that our happiness comes from specific interactions with people and material goods. For example, material pleasure including having nice clothes or a fancy car will ultimately yield far less happiness than helping someone obtain happiness themselves or by working towards an achievement. Concurrently, Maslow`s hierarchy of needs is also provided as a contrasting example. In this model, there is a very clear-cut quantity of happiness obtained through the level of need we …show more content…
“The Four Kinds of Happiness moves from the self-transcendence individual to the relational and finally to the transcendent and collective. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, on the other hand, moves from the collective to the relational and, at its peak, to the individual.” Brooks supports this statement by providing evidence through the recently released book called, “The All-or-Nothing Marriage” by Eli J. Finkel, one of America’s leading marriage researchers. Brooks uses this book to support his claims as it focuses on building a marriage around the frame that Maslow designed. Brooks uses this evidence because the book takes a rather interesting outlook on how a good marriage and relationship is built. The core of Brooks` entire argument is found in paragraph seven and eight. The psychologist Otto Rank wrote, “one individual is helping the other to develop and grow, without infringing too much on the other’s personality.” You should choose the spouse who will help you elicit the best version of yourself. Spouses coach each other as each seeks to realize his or her most authentic self.” By providing this very self-absorbed definition of marriage; Brooks is able to make his audience contemplate the foundation of their own relationship by providing a much more satisfying and fulfilling
In this editorial, David Brooks, an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, provides us with the insight for two models of human development. The first being what Aristotle called, “ The Four Kinds of Happiness”. This theory simply states that our happiness comes from specific interactions with people and material goods. For example, material pleasure including having nice clothes or a fancy car will ultimately yield far less happiness than helping someone obtain happiness themselves or by working towards an achievement. Concurrently, Maslow`s hierarchy of needs is also provided as a contrasting example. In this model, there is a very clear-cut quantity of happiness obtained through the level of need we …show more content…
“The Four Kinds of Happiness moves from the self-transcendence individual to the relational and finally to the transcendent and collective. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, on the other hand, moves from the collective to the relational and, at its peak, to the individual.” Brooks supports this statement by providing evidence through the recently released book called, “The All-or-Nothing Marriage” by Eli J. Finkel, one of America’s leading marriage researchers. Brooks uses this book to support his claims as it focuses on building a marriage around the frame that Maslow designed. Brooks uses this evidence because the book takes a rather interesting outlook on how a good marriage and relationship is built. The core of Brooks` entire argument is found in paragraph seven and eight. The psychologist Otto Rank wrote, “one individual is helping the other to develop and grow, without infringing too much on the other’s personality.” You should choose the spouse who will help you elicit the best version of yourself. Spouses coach each other as each seeks to realize his or her most authentic self.” By providing this very self-absorbed definition of marriage; Brooks is able to make his audience contemplate the foundation of their own relationship by providing a much more satisfying and fulfilling