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What is the nature of "happiness"
The definition of happiness
The definition of happiness
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Happiness
“Are you happy?” Is a famous question that I often hear people ask when starting conversations with others. This seems like such a simple question to answer but in reality, the idea of happiness is incredibly complex. People will probably answer yes right away when first being asked this question. Often, when being asked, people will think of how they are currently feeling. However, I believe that there are many key factors that go in to determining if someone is truly happy and what leads to a good life. I have come to the conclusion that the eudaimonic form of happiness is what will lead me to living the happiest and best life.
The conception of the good life is a topic that was discussed and defined as having a life that was a happy one. I think the form of happiness that will be the most fulfilling will be, Eudaimonia. This term is defined as “human flourishing.” Many different philosophers have stated their viewpoints on what is needed to be completed in order to achieve this form of happiness. I have found myself
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What I really found interesting is that he claimed that we cannot imitate others in order to find our path to happiness. A person has to follow their own path to find their happiness. Happiness is inside of you and you are the person that determines if you are happy. He also says that a happy life is one that is at peace with its surroundings. Being at peace with your surroundings means that you will have a sound mind, courage, energy, fortitude, and the ability to appreciate good fortune but also being able to not expect good fortune at all times (Cahn, Vitrano 2008 41-43). A perfect example of someone who has the ability to be at peace with their surroundings are nuns/sisters. They always seem so happy and peaceful. I look up to them and wish I could find that type of
It is a common thought that happiness is key to a successful life, and many try to find out how to achieve the
Happiness has always been a desirable goal throughout our lives, but each actions we take might just affect the happiness of others. When humans seek happiness, we always seek for things that make us feel alive, or things that brings us the greatest comfort. Our contentment comes with the act of selfishness since we choose to prioritize our happiness above all other. We willingly classify happiness in two different types of meaning, both physical and mental happiness. People ought not be in title to happiness because it is classified in general as a physical desire by many people. Contentment is always known to be a physical satisfaction in life instead of a self-inducing satisfaction for life.
Yet, happiness is not a condition, a gift or a talent, though some people appear to have a natural knack for happiness than others. They seem to have no particular reason for being happy except that they are so. Sometimes it may lie in one’s genetic disposition to be happier than others in identical circumstances; they have inherent aptitude for happiness. They are born with it: born happy. It is the genetic factor. But, it is also a skill that can be acquired, practiced into habit. Typically, a man tends to count his misfortunes more than his fortunes. But if he counts his fortunes at the same time with the same sensitivity, he would see that for every misfortune there are so many fortunes, for every pain there are so many pleasures. If he counts it right, he will be very happy. It is a hard arithmetic, but to be master with the math, we need to welcome these blessings and recount ourselves to be happy every day, every time. We need to reconcile, recognize and appreciate what we have (good health) and what we do not have (cancer). The talent of being happy is an understanding. Intelligence starts here. It is not a huge effort; it is possible and achievable. It is some form of
What is Happiness? Well that’s a question that everyone asks to themselves. Happiness is not something that you can trade; it’s honestly what people find. They want happiness and want to know they will always be happy. But Happiness is like air and water it is a hard emotion to grab on to in one’s hand. How do you know you have happiness? Can you feel it? Does it just happen? These are questions everyone wants a answer to.
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist who understood happiness as a common goal shared among all humans, happiness was the achievement of human flourishing something he called ‘eudaimonia’ (Sober, 2009). Eudaimonia translates as the perfect happiness, human excellence and fulfillment, a universal interest to everyone, and a quality of goodness that enables a person to be able to reflect on their life and be happy with it (Brook, 2015, p. 315).
We might not have the same opinions, paths, and ways of living; but we all, millions of people around the world, share the same purpose of life: Being able to say “I am having a good life!” What we mean by “good life” is living in pure happiness and having a wonderful peace of mind. The difference between us is that each one of us chooses a different way in his pursuit of happiness. Some find it in stability with a big house, a family, and a good paying job. Some find it in adventure and wildness, travel, and taking risks. While others don’t really have specific criteria or an organized plan, they just believe that happiness comes with living each day as if it was the last, with no worries about the rest. Personally, I find it in trying to be the best version of myself, in staying true to my principles, and in the same time in being able to make my own decisions; which reminds me of what George Loewenstein said “Just because we figure out that X makes people happy and they're choosing Y, we don't want to impose X on them.”
But in this debate, one question still raises its head - What is happiness? Happiness is not actually leading a luxurious life, but the luxury of living a life. Happiness is not actually about expanding your business, but it lies in expanding the horizons of life. Happiness is not having a meal in the most famous restaurant, but having it with your most beloved family. It does not lie in attending honorable parties, but to attend a party with honor.
Happiness in today’s modern language is defined as a pleasurable or satisfying experience (Merriam-Webster). This definition differs greatly when compared to the Greek word happiness was translated from, eudemonia. Eudemonia is best translated as “well-being” or “flourishing” (Reeve, 227). From this definition, happiness is not based solely off of an emotional state, but a condition of a person over a lifetime, and not just in a specific moment in time. A kind of active living that is in accordance with virtue (Aristotle, Book I, VII).
Joy is that indescribable feeling that has no material compulsion associated with it. Joy is the Sentinel that is the permanent guard when happiness has left its post ― temporarily. 308. “Joy” comprehends “happiness,” but “happiness” may not comprehend “joy.” Joy is a spiritual attribute, and happiness is a material attribute.
Happiness can be understood as the moral goal of life or can be unpredictable and is something we create from ourselves and by ourselves. The idea of happiness was known as something we nurture on our own and is a state of emotion. Completing our everyday goals will soon bring us happiness, which seems to be very important to most humans and is what makes life worth living, but this is not certain. This conception of Eudemonia was common in ancient Greece as it is currently today. Aristotle had what he thought was an ideal activity for all those who wanted to live life to the fullest, be happy, and have purpose.
...that happiness is not found in amusement for it is too incongruous to end in amusement, and that our efforts and sufferings would be aimed at amusing ourselves. A flourishing life—a happy life, is one that consists of numerous requirements having been fulfilled to some degree. These include those things that preserve and maintain physical welfare such as, a certain level of material wellbeing, health, satisfaction, good familial and friendship bonds, and a comely appearance. Additionally, certain intellectual and moral needs ought to be met as well. It is a well-ordered and just state and community that preserves the freedom to have such a life. Thus, eudaimonia—happiness—for Aristotle is an inclusive notion consisting of life in accordance with intellectual and moral virtues, rational contemplation, and securing certain physical needs, such that one is flourishing.
I believe that happiness is the key to living a good and prosperous life. Through all of the sadness and hate in the world, happiness gives me hope. It gives not only me, but others hope and joy. Happiness gives us something to hold onto, therefore we cherish it as much as we can.
Happiness is something all of us want from our lives. Most of us pursue happiness and believe that it is the ultimate purpose of our lives, to achieve eternal happiness. Here, there are two articles which talk about two different opinions on the way to achieve real happiness.
The art of happiness is a philosophy of Dalai Lama who sees that the purpose of life is to be happy. According to this philosophy regardless of what religion we believe, what job we do, whatever opinion each individual has but the we are always looking to be better and happier more than whatever we have achieved in our lives. Lama has written a Book “ The Art of Happiness” where he states most of the time the purpose of the life is to be happy.
...e way. Apart from success, good health and longevity are associated with happiness. The lightheartedness that accompanies happiness has been said to lower the chance of strokes and heart attacks. Laughter releases tension and add to persons overall sense of well-being. Happiness is not death, or sorrow. It is not gloom, depression or heavy-heartedness. Happiness does not lament nor does it worry. It is neither moody nor pensive, neither wanton nor pessimistic. Happiness does not mourn for what was it instead rejoices in what will be. Happiness comes through good fortune and through loving and being loved. Eating a good meal, being in good health and enjoying the comforts of life can also achieve it. The simple pleasures of life bring happiness, whether it be enjoying a favorite dessert, smelling a rose or running in the rain.