The American Dream : Living the Good Life and Prosperity

I agree wholeheartedly with Aristotle and believe that modern-day society, with its focus on wealth and acquisition, continues to subvert quality of brio history for individuals. Aristotle is not the only individual with views on the subject. Americans like John Woolman, asa dulcis Franklin, Henry David Thoreau, and former death chair Jimmy Carter all believed that was an alternative American Dream that provided what Carter called a "new sense of purpose" for individuals other than consumption and acquisition, (Segal, 1999, p. 8). such individuals promoted the "just enough is mess" version of the American Dream, maintaining that pursuits of knowledge, brotherly interaction, and other civic-minded activities provided a higher meaning and level of fulfilment than merely acquiring for its declare sake (Segal, 1999, p. 3).

In Benjamin Franklin advocated saving of income primarily as a means to be able to en rejoicing the good life through mixed pursuits not related to expending labor to acquire things. The finis of earning income was only to acquire enough resources so that the average someone "might remain free in his own life, be his own master," according to Franklin, (Segal, 1999, p. 7). Henry David Thoreau advocated a simple life that inc

luded re-experiencing our connection with disposition and our immense pleasure and joy from pursuing activities in nature. merely those activities necessary for sustenance should be undertaken with respect to acquiring, according to Thoreau. Thoreau viewed contemporary society as one that undermined individual's ability to enjoy life because it forced them to toil for acquisition's sake while separating them from their connection to and joy from nature because of it.

Thoreau looked at the growth of capitalism and consumerism and everywhere slightly him he saw what he viewed as slaves to a worldly system without chance for fulfillment or meaning because of it, "The xii labors of Hercules were trifling in comparison with those which my neighbors have undertaken; for they were only twelve and had an end" (Segal, 1999, p. 7).

Segal, J. M. (1999). Two ways of thinking about money. delightful Simplicity: The Philosophy and Politics of the Alternative American Dream. CA: The Regents of the University of California, 3-9.

In conclusion, it is readily `pparent that there are two ideologies of the American Dream in the history of American society and thought. However, around contemporary Americans continue to subscribe to the one that promotes materialism for its own sake as opposed to the just enough is plenty alternative. In doing so, they may be able to pile up a wealth of material goods in a murk of acquisition fervor, but in doing so they will be robbing themselves of a
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