Happiness | Written assignment | Engelsk Eksamen

Innholdsfortegnelse
1. Give an account of what makes people happy and what does not, as expressed in the three texts (400 words).
2. Taking your starting point in one of the texts discuss whether or not technology leads to more happiness (300 – 400 words).

Utdrag
At this moment, I find myself harboring the belief that acquiring the latest iPhone 6s would usher in an era of unparalleled happiness.

A similar conviction had enveloped me when I first obtained my iPhone 5s, but alas, that initial euphoria dwindled after the initial three days, leaving me in a state akin to the countless others wielding the same device.

It seems I'm not alone in these musings; countless souls entertain similar thoughts. The notion that acquiring the newest car, phone, or any other trendy item from the market will somehow elevate one's bliss pervades the collective consciousness.

This breed of fleeting contentment is succinctly dissected in James Surowiecki's enlightening piece, "Technology and Happiness."

Within its pages, we discover the sobering reality that the modern denizen is no happier than their 1946 counterpart.

Indeed, these three texts artfully illustrate happiness from distinct vantage points. Another facet of this elusive emotion is unveiled when one conquers a monumental goal that has long loomed on the horizon.

In "The Question of Happiness" penned by Tal Ben-Shahar, a young boy dedicates five grueling years to his quest for a championship, eventually tasting the sweet nectar of triumph. However, as days meld into months, the elation wanes, and desolation takes its place.

A common thread unites these two narratives on happiness: the ephemeral nature of fulfillment, whether through the attainment of goals or the acquisition of the latest gadget. Both seek to unravel the enigmatic essence of happiness.

In the third offering, "Happiness" by Michael Crichton, happiness takes on a more familiar guise—an emotion experienced frequently but discerned only in retrospect.

There exist moments when happiness eludes conscious thought, only to reveal itself upon reflection. "We know a lot about what doesn't make you happy...

People imagine they'll be happy as soon as they get that relationship, degree, marriage, or promotion," the article sagely observes.