Facebook, Friendship and Pursuit of Happiness - Assignment Example

Assignment 3 Pursuit of happiness is indeed a major concern in the society. Every individual primarily works to achieve and maintain happiness. It is generally believed that pursuit of happiness in America is close to consumerism and capitalism (Speth 1). However, recent researchers argue that this relationship does not exactly exist. This is attributed to the question as to whether growth in possessions and material abundance resulted to happiness in the country. With this, there are some contradictions that have risen in capitalist and American concepts of happiness. Capitalism primarily pushes for the creation of wealth individually. This is consequently thought to be the source of happiness; accumulating a lot of money leads to happiness. However, this belief has continued to gain criticism given the fact that most Americans are realizing that being wealth or in possession of material things and lots of money does not guarantee happiness. Indeed, according to Speth (1) the American dream does not entirely refer to becoming rich, though it is part of the dream, but it basically refers to having a social order whereby every individual will attain stature which one is innately able and be recognised fellow people regardless of his or her background. This is perceived in Reagan's speech on the Shining City upon a Hill whereby Regan emphasised the fact that America was indeed the model of other countries through its achievements that were gotten from individuals in the country. Horton clearly agrees to the above and goes on to emphasise the fact that money can buy happiness but argues this from a different perspective from that presented by capitalists. In his arguments, Horton notes that there are six ways through which individuals may be able to buy happiness. These include spending resources on other people not only oneself, spending money to give time, spending resources at the present and continue waiting to enjoy it, spending it more on experiences instead of possessions, using it in small pleasure than large but few ones, and also on fundamental feelings. As such, it is quite clear that when a capitalist perceives money as source of happiness; that is, through the accumulation of material things and possession; believe among Americans that creating a positive social order and using money or wealth accumulated with others leads to happiness. In fact, one critique of capitalist perspective argues that money may be compared to a theatre ticket whereby accumulation of thousands of tickets does not lead to happiness until one uses them to be happy. According to Johnson (1) the United States has the highest gun violence compared to other countries. With this, he notes that there are underlying factors in gun violence in the country as compared to other countries. One of these factors includes the assumption that the American cultures have a liking for violence as per various scientists. Under this, the author notes that the culture has indeed shaped a mental dysfunction that has resulted to violence more so among the young generation. Another factor that the author considers possible is from an economic perspective (2). Under this, he argues that violence cannot be entirely blamed on poverty but the collision perceived between affluence and poverty in the society; that is, an ancient war between the have-nots and haves. Other important underlying factors that the author has mentioned include lack of religion practices and beliefs in the public schools, increase in the use of violent video games, income inequality; a higher rate of income inequality the higher the rate of violence, and high number of guns presence in the country. In relation to the latter, the country is said to be heavily armed compared to other countries in the world; there are about 90 guns for every 100 Americans, and social factors (Johnson 3). With the above understanding, it is therefore significant to reduce the gun violence in the country. Under this there are various ways and methods through which the above can be achieved. In this case however, it is the question as to whether social connectedness can decrease gun violence. Notably, gun culture has been considered to be part of the people’s fabric in the country and in many cases it is rather impossible to take that away from the citizens. However, the fact that one may be responsible and do what something that will reduce gun violence, is the vital issue (Johnson 1). Social connectedness may indeed decrease gun violence in any society. Given that it involves people coming together to discuss issues related to their security and other forms of social life, it will indeed result to an understanding that will decrease violence. In regards to this, several youth programs have been started in various regions that have engaged the youths in matters concerning gun violence and its prevention. Through training, education and face to face interaction, social relationships have been developed in addition to sharing information on the same (Klayman 57). According to Aristotle there are 3 types of friendship; the virtuous one, friendship of pleasure and that related to utility. He generally argues that friendship must be valued highly as it does not only a complete virtue but is also above justice and honour that an individual receives (Sachs 12). Still, it surpasses justice and very necessary for life. Generally, he argues that friendship is primarily a single soul that is found in two bodies. However, it is interesting to note that the social media is faithfully detracting from the above notion; as such from Aristotle perspective, this entirely makes friendship less impressive and good. In one of the recent released movie on social networking, especially on Facebook, an advertisement tag has been launched that specifically shout out that it is quite difficult to make 500 million friends on Facebook without having some enemies. Well, from this kind of social display, it is quite hard to define the word ‘friends’. As depicted in the movie, it is obvious that the character more so Zuckerberg and his friends do not meet the forwarded standards of friendship by Aristotle. Two major friends in the movie have difficulties depicting the fact that there is no single soul existing in their bodies. In addition, to the above, it is obvious that the word ‘friends’ has been used loosely in world of Facebook. This is also true in other social media including LinkedIn and twitter, which have indeed replaced Aristotle of friendship to a different modern one which entirely wipes out the real happiness brought about by real friendship. Sadly, as people are embracing the kind of friendship created and perpetuated by the social media, the more the nature of friendship between people is declining and individuals are losing more friends than the rate they are gaining (Heneghan 1). Clearly, the introduction of electronic stimuli has gradually replaced the true meaning of friendship and it is merely established on a shallow platform, which is opposite to the espoused by Aristotle. Additionally, the kind of friendship introduced by the social media lacks quality when compared to that described by Aristotle. Simply put, a one-on-one type of friendship is more promising and great compared to that via online. In fact, it is hard to have a single soul in two bodies in a friendship created by a social media. Furthermore, the forces behind social media is the desire to form friendship while the one related to Aristotle is that which has taken timed to be build and mature; the two give different meaning and quality of friendship; while one is a click away the other is cultivated and straightforward (Heneghan 1). Works Cited Heneghan, Liam. "Facebook and the solitary practice of friendship." 3 Quark Daily 1 April 2013: 1. Johnson, Eric. The joker's wild; on the ecology of gun violence in America. 2012. Web. 18 March 2014. Klayman, Douglas. "Evaluation of a youth led Social Movement Initiative." Social dynamics 2 (2005): 56-77. Michael Horton. How to buy happiness. 2012. Web. 18 March 2014. Ronald Reagan. The Shining City Upon a Hill. 1974. Web. 18 March 2014. Sachs, Joe. Aristotle:Nicomachean Ethics. Newburyport: Focus Publishing , 2002. Print. Speth, James. The American dream vs the Gospel of wealth. 2011. Web. 18 March 2014. Read More