Reference: The Way To Happiness
Definitions
These definitions are given as footnotes in the booklet The Way to Happiness with the following caution:
“Words sometimes have several different meanings. The footnote definitions given in this book only give the meaning that the word has as it is used in the text. If you find any words in this book you do not know, look them up in a good dictionary. If you do not, then misunderstandings and possible arguments can arise.”
ADAMANT
hard; not giving in; unyielding; something which won’t break; insistent; refusing any other opinion; surrendering to nothing.
ARISTOCRACY
government by a few with special privileges, ranks or positions; rule by an elite few who are above the general law; a group who by birth or position are “superior to everybody else” and who can make or apply laws to others but consider that they themselves are not affected by the laws.
BOORS
persons with rude, clumsy manners and little refinement.
CHAOTIC
having the character or nature of total disorder or confusion. 4. immoral: not moral; not following good practices of behavior; not doing right; lacking any idea of proper conduct.
COMPETENT
able to do well those things one does; capable; skilled in doing what one does; measuring up to the demands of one’s activities.
COMPROMISE
a settlement of differences in which each side gives in on some point while retaining others and reaching a mutual agreement thereby
DETER
to prevent or discourage.
DOLE
the British term for government relief.
ENVIRONMENT
one’s surroundings; the material things around one; the area one lives in; the living things, objects, spaces and forces with which one lives whether close to or far away.
EVOLUTIONARY
related to a very ancient theory that all plants and animals developed from simpler forms and were shaped by their surroundings rather than being planned or created.
EXAMPLE
someone or something worthy of imitation or duplication; a pattern, a model.
FLOURISH
to be in a state of activity and production; expanding in influence; thriving; visibly doing well.
“THE GOLDEN RULE”
although this is looked upon by Christians as Christian and is found in the New and Old Testaments, many other races and peoples spoke of it. It also appears in the Analects of Confucius (fifth and sixth centuries B.C.) who, himself, quoted from more ancient works. It is also found in “primitive” tribes. In one form or another it appears in the ancient works of Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates and Seneca. For thousands of years it has been held by man as a standard of ethical conduct. The versions given in this book are newly worded, however, as in earlier wordings it was thought to be too idealistic to be kept. It is possible to keep this version
HAPPINESS
a condition or state of well-being, contentment, pleasure; joyful, cheerful, untroubled existence; the reaction to having nice things happen to one.
HONOR
to show respect for; to treat with deference and courtesy.
IMMORAL
not moral; not following good practices of behavior; not doing right; lacking any idea of proper conduct.
IMPLACABLE
not open to being quieted, soothed or pleased; remorseless; relentless.
INCOMPETENCE
lacking adequate knowledge or skill or ability; unskilled; incapable; subject to making big errors or mistakes; bungling.
INDUSTRIOUS
applying oneself with energy to study or work; actively and purposefully getting things done; opposite of being idle and accomplishing nothing.
INFLUENCES
has an effect upon. 18. influence: the resulting effect.
LIES
false statements or pieces of information deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood; anything meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.
MATERIALISM
any one of a family of metaphysical theories which view the universe as consisting of hard objects such as stones, very big or very small. The theories seek to explain away such things as minds by saying they can be reduced to physical things or their motions. Materialism is a very ancient idea. There are other ideas.
MATERIALISTIC
the opinion that only physical matter exists.
MECHANISM
the view that all life is only matter in motion and can be totally explained by physical laws. Advanced by Leucippus and Democritus (460 B.C. to 370 B.C.) who may have gotten it from Egyptian mythology. Upholders of this philosophy felt they had to neglect religion because they could not reduce it to mathematics. They were attacked by religious interests and in their turn attacked religions. Robert Boyle (1627–1691) who developed Boyle’s Law in physics, refuted it by raising the question as to whether or not nature might have designs such as matter in motion.
MORAL
able to know right from wrong in conduct; deciding and acting from that understanding.
MORALE
the mental and emotional attitude of an individual or a group; sense of well-being; willingness to get on with it; a sense of common purpose.
MURDER
the unlawful killing of one (or more) human being(s) by another, especially with malice aforethought (intending to do so before the act).
OBLIGATION
the condition or fact of owing another something in return for things, favors or services received.
the state, fact or condition of being indebted to another for a special service or favor received; a duty, contract, promise or any other social, moral or legal requirement that binds one to follow or avoid a certain course of action; the sense of owing another.
PHENOMENON
an observable fact or event.
PILLORIED
exposed to ridicule, public contempt, scorn or abuse.
PRACTICE
to exercise or perform repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill.
PRECEPTS
rules or statements advising or laying down a principle or principles or a course of action regarding conduct; directions meant as a rule or rules for conduct.
PRODUCTION
the act of completing something; finishing a task, project or object that is useful or valuable or simply worth doing or having.
PROMISCUOUS
having or engaging in casual, random sexual relations.
PROPAGANDA
spreading ideas, information or rumor to further one’s own cause and/or injure that of another, often without regard to truth; the act of putting lies in the press or on radio and TV so that when a person comes to trial he will be found guilty; the action of falsely damaging a person’s reputation so he will not be listened to. Propagandist: a person or group who does, makes or practices propaganda.
PROPAGANDIST
a person or group who does, makes or practices propaganda. Propaganda: spreading ideas, information or rumor to further one’s own cause and/or injure that of another, often without regard to truth; the act of putting lies in the press or on radio and TV so that when a person comes to trial he will be found guilty; the action of falsely damaging a person’s reputation so he will not be listened to.
PROSPER
to achieve economic success; succeeding at what one does
RELIEF
goods or money given by a government agency to people because of need or poverty.
SAFEGUARD
prevent from being harmed; protect.
SURVIVAL
the act of remaining alive, of continuing to exist, of being alive.
TEMPERATE
not going to extremes; not overdoing things; controlling one’s cravings.
TRUTH
that which agrees with the facts and observations; logical answers resulting from looking over all the facts and data; a conclusion based on evidence uninfluenced by desire, authority or prejudice; an inevitable (unavoidable) fact no matter how arrived at.
TYRANNICAL
the use of cruel, unjust and absolute power; crushing; oppressing; harsh; severe.
VANDALISM
the willful and malicious destruction of public or private property, especially anything beautiful or artistic.
VIRTUES
the ideal qualities in good human conduct.
WILL
bearing or attitude toward others; disposition; traditionally, “men of good will” means those who mean well toward their fellows and work to help them.
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