CORNERSTONE

L E S S O N : A R I S T O T L E - H A P P I N E S S A D V A N TA G E
E S S E N T I A L U N D E R S TA N D I N G

1) How can fostering virtue can lead to greater

happiness?
CLASSICAL VIRTUES

Athens is remembered for

its great thinkers

They devised democracy,

science and philosophy

Athenians dedicated great

effort to achieve personal
Arete [Excellence]

A well balanced life, in

pursuit of wisdom led to
stability and happiness
CLASSICAL VIRTUES

One of the greatest Greek

Philosophers was Aristotle

He grew up at a
tumultuous time in Greek
history

He started a school in
Athens and tutored
Alexander the Great

A strong relationship was

forged which in turn fueled
his studies
CLASSICAL VIRTUES

One of Aristotles greatest

studies concerned ethics

He pondered over what led to

individual happiness

He deduced that happiness

did not come from luxury and
materialism

It came from living a balanced

life, establishing harmony
between depravity and excess

He developed a system of
virtues and vices
CLASSICAL VIRTUES

EXCESS MEAN DEFICIENCY

RASHNESS COURAGE COWARDICE

UNCONSTRAINED TEMPERANCE INDIFFERENCE

SELFISHNESS JUSTICE SELFLESSNESS

ARROGANCE WISDOM FOOLISHNESS

CLASSICAL VIRTUES

These classical virtues

became the foundation of
Greek and Roman culture

Excess were deemed vices

and debilitative of
progress and happiness

They continued to be
followed for generations
and more virtues were
added by Christians

Faith, Hope and Charity

CLASSICAL VIRTUES

When the Roman Empire

collapsed, many considered a
lack of virtue to be at fault

Romans became excessive

and abusive

They no longer cared for one

another, but sought personal
gain

They became lazy and

stopped working with their
own hands

They relied on slaves and

foreigners in their armies
 But when, by perseverance and integrity, the republic had increased its
power; when mighty princes had been vanquished in war; when barbarous
tribes and populous states had been reduced to subjection; whenCarthage,
the rival ofRome's dominion, had been utterly destroyed, and sea and land
lay every where open to her sway, fortune then began to exercise her
tyranny. At first the love of money, and then that of power, began to prevail,
and these became, as it were, the sources of every evil. For avarice
subverted honesty, integrity, and other honorable principles, and, in their
stead, inculcated pride, inhumanity, contempt of religion, and general
venality. [The youth] slept before there was any inclination for sleep; they no
longer waited to feel hunger, thirst, cold,or fatigue, but anticipated them all
by luxurious indulgence. For their minds, impregnated with evil habits,
could not easily abstain from gratifying their passions, and were thus the
more inordinately devoted in every way to rapacity and extravagance.

SALLUST CONSPIRACY OF CAITLIN CH10

E S S E N T I A L U N D E R S TA N D I N G S : PA R T I

1) Do you think happiness is possible by following the

four classical virtues?

2) What might be a shortcoming?

3) Could it lead to a better or more stable society?

Why/Why Not?
A S S I G N M E N T:

1) Look up virtues

2) List eight virtues that you would like to acquire

Define

How you can improve

Contemporary Look at Happiness
QUESTIONS

1) According to the video, how do we think backwards

in terms of attaining happiness?

2) How can we find greater happiness?

3) What are the five ways that have been found to

improve happiness?
H A P P I N E S S A D V A N TA G E

We become successful when we are

happy, not the other way around

We are happy when we strive to

achieve our potential

Happiness is not a mood, its an

ethic

When our brains focus on the

negative, it leads to failure and
suffering

We can train our brains to be more

positive, as a result we will be more
successful and feel happier

There are 4 ways to increase our

happiness
#1 ACTS OF KINDNESS

Being kind to others makes

us feel good

Increases our sense of

worth

Makes us more respected,

people see you as a leader,
want to be around you

Social Network: Importance

Each day do something

kind to a person in your
social network
# 2 G R AT I T U D E

We often focus on the negative

aspects of life [our day]

Thinking of your favorite movie

increases endorphins 27%

Violent and negative movies

and media lower our levels of
happiness

Each day, list three things you

are grateful for

List something you are looking

forward to [anticipation
stimulates the brain more than
the reward]
#3 EXERCISE

Physical activity boosts

your mood

Causes you to feel more

positive about yourself

Builds mental toughness

Reduces stress, anxiety

and improves mental and
physical health

Do a manageable amount
of exercise every day
#4 JOURNALING

Journaling helps us recall

the positive things we did
during the day

It can show us growth and

personal progress

It helps us reflect on the

good and upon memorable
experiences

It also helps the mind come

to ease, releases pressure

Write each day about a

positive event
# 5 M E D I TAT I O N
Monks who meditate have larger
prefrontal cortexes in their brain,
the area responsible for happiness

Meditation puts the brain at ease,

allows it to relax and focus

Assists with sleep and rest

Creates feelings of calm,

contentedness

Lowers stress, increases immunity

and causes one to feel greater
happiness

Even shown to increase empathy

toward others

Meditate for at least 5 minutes a day

E S S E N T I A L U N D E R S TA N D I N G S

1) How can fostering virtue lead to greater happiness?

2) How can it benefit society?

3) In what ways have the Happiness Advantage

methods been proven to boost happiness levels?
CORNERSTONE
LESSON: FRANKLIN -GOAL SETTING
E S S E N T I A L U N D E R S TA N D I N G

Understand how goal setting can improve personal

happiness and success.
CLASSICAL VIRTUES

Virtues are universal qualities

They build character

They increase happiness

Reduce self doubt and fear

Provide you with friends

Help you accomplish

greatness

The value of cultivating

virtues was well understood
by Benjamin Franklin
CLASSICAL VIRTUES

Ben Franklin was a self-made

man

He was a successful printer,

scientist, musician, author and
diplomat

He also helped create the

democratic system we all enjoy

Franklin worked hard as a

youth to attain all his
incredible feats

Key to it was a rigorous routine

of goal setting, based on
classical virtues
CLASSICAL VIRTUES

At the age of 20, he conceived

of a program to help him push
himself and develop virtue

He created a list of 13 virtues

he sought to attain

Each week he would strive to

better himself

He would evaluate his

progress and strive for
perfection

In the end, he felt his goal

setting routine made him a
better person
 Tho I never arrived at the perfection I had been
so ambitious of attaining, yet I was, by the
endeavor, a better and a happier man that I
otherwise should have been if I had not attempted
it.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
FRANKLINS 13 VIRTUES

1) Temperance: Eat not to dullness, drink not to elation

2) Silence: Speak only to benefit others. Avoid trifle conversation

3) Order: Let all of your things have their places. Let each part of
business have its time.

4) Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought.

5) Frugality: Make no expense but to do good. Waste nothing.

6) Industry: Lose no time, always be employed in something

useful
FRANKLINS 13 VIRTUES

7) Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Speak justly.

8) Justice: Wrong no one by doing injury.

9) Moderation: Avoid the extreme.

10) Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes or habitation.

11) Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles or accidents

12) Chastity: Rarely use venery. Never to the injury of others peace or
reputation.

13) Humility: Emulate Christ and Socrates in all things.

VIRTUES JOURNAL
CLASSICAL VIRTUES

Each day Franklin had a virtue

he would focus on

He would also rate his progress

with other virtues daily

Failures would lead to marks

In addition to tracking
progress, Franklin would make
a daily goal

He would ask: What good shall

I do this day?

At end of day he would reflect:

What good have I done today?
JOURNAL PROJECT

1) Create a Journal

2) Keep record for 14 days

3) Journal must be creative and hand designed. It must be skillfully

crafted and kept. Must show thought, care and dedication

4) Must chronicle progress over two weeks: Daily marks and goals

5) Contain seven virtues: Two classical, Two Happiness, Three personal

choice.

6) A two page reflection on your progress and happiness level at

conclusion
CORNERSTONE
LESSON: GRIT
E S S E N T I A L U N D E R S TA N D I N G

What is Grit? What is its role in determining individual

success?
 In recent decades, American parents have raised a
Generation of Sissiesof spoiled, lazy, pampered
and over-rated youthwho are highly educated, but
in things that the world doesnt value very much
(Health, Physical Education, Visual Arts)The vast
majority of this generation consists of formally
educated, but spoiled, soft post-adolescents, who will
struggle to be self-sustaining as adults.

JOHN MARIOTTI, NEW YORK TIMES

CLASS READING: SPOILED ROTTEN

Highlight

Write = A gist at the end of each paragraph

Color/Highlight = Anything that needs
clarification or defining.
Detail = At the end what this article is about.
Opinion = Write if you agree or disagree with the
author and why.
DEFINING GRIT

Psychologist Angela Duckworth studied

what made people successful in life

She found that the most important

factor, more than talent or education,
was a persons grit

She defined grit as a persons passion

and perseverance to achieve a long
term goal

A person who exemplifies grit is

committed, and despite any obstacle
set before them, perseveres

What does it take to achieve your

greatest goals and desires? The answer
is most cases is nothing more than grit.

How much grit do you have?

Defining Grit
MEASURING GRIT

For Questions 1, 4, 6, 9, 10 and 12 assign the following

points.

5 = Very like me

4 = Mostly like me

3 = Somewhat like me

2 = Not much like me

1 = Not like me at all

MEASURING GRIT

For Questions 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 11assign the following

points.

1 = Very much like me

2 = Mostly like me

3 = Somewhat like me

4 = Not much like me

5 = Not like me at all

MEASURING GRIT

Add up all the points and divide by 12. The maximum

is 5 (Very Gritty) and the Low is 1 (Not Very Gritty)
DEFINING GRIT
How can you attain grit?

Go after what interests you. What do

you love doing if money was not a
factor?

Learn to love hard practice

Find purpose in what you do.

Have hope. Realize you will fall short at

times. Have the will power to see it
through.

Hang out with those who exemplify

grit.

People who take the hard road find

more fulfillment and meaning in life.
This has been shown to increase
happiness.
Learning New Skills