The face of happiness: philosophical view

 

The face of happiness: philosophical view

In 350 B.C.E., Aristotle stated that happiness is the only emotion that humans desire for its own sake. He observed that men sought riches, or honor, or health, not for their own sake but in order to be happy. The term "eudaimonia" which translates as "happiness," was for Aristotle an activity rather than an emotion or a state.

People have always viewed happiness differently. Happiness, contentment, pleasure, or joy is the state of being happy, gained via either purposeful intent or spontaneity, through hard work or good fortune. The definition of happiness is one of the greatest philosophical dilemmas, since there exists the philosophical, psychological, biological, religious, and spiritual approaches to the definition of happiness and its sources. Definitions include freedom from want and distress, consciousness of the good order of things, assurance of one's place in the universe or society, inner peace, etc. In the general sense, however, happiness can be defined as the state which humans and other animals are behaviorally driven toward, to counter external forces which would otherwise lead to unhappiness (and presumably eventual death.)

Philosophically, we were not meant just to live, but to live well. Various philosophical views:

Utilitarianism commonly seeks the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Epicureanism is the belief that the greatest good is to seek happiness for oneself.
Objectivism holds that the purpose of one's life should be one's rational self-interest, or happiness.
Hedonism is any ethical theory that gives pleasure a central role.
Eudaimonism is any ethical theory that gives happiness a central role.
 

For Aristotle, happiness was "the virtuous activity of the soul in accordance with reason" ~       happiness is the practice of virtue.
 

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