Definition Essay On Happiness
Defining Happiness
Many philosophical thinkers have attempted to explain the question of what makes human beings happy and how this happiness can be spread to the greatest number of people. This issue is perhaps one of the most challenging to tackle because there are so many different ways for people to achieve happiness. Scholars such as John Stuart Mill and Aristotle attempt to point out universal truths by defining key aspects of happiness such as pleasure and attempting to do good. They both bring up valid, respectable ideas that tell us a lot about how to act so that all of mankind will benefit. However, there is some difficulty in applying these ideas in the real world because of how varying and unpredictable people may be.
Utilitarianism …show more content…
However, he does say that everyone agrees that the supreme Good is happiness (Ross, 1998). Everyone’s actions are directed at some end that is considered good. Sometimes the action is a means to an end, rather than being an end in itself. This approach, which does not exemplify the supreme Good, is basically only doing good for its consequences. Other actions are ends in themselves and are pursued for their own intrinsic value. These actions are seen as the supreme Good and are necessary for our existence. Everyone should act in a way that, if all people acted in this way, everyone would be well off. For example, a person might tell a lie to reach a higher position at their company. If everyone lied just to get ahead then there would be no such thing as a promise. Without promises, we would most likely cease to exist. This is why everyone should strive to achieve the supreme Good so that we all benefit. Aristotle also talks about the different ways people see happiness. Some think that receiving honors and recognition is true happiness, but honors are actually the recognition of the good itself. He says that virtue and intelligence are only good because they result in happiness (Ross, 1998). He says that a human’s distinctive quality is their ability to rationally think. Aristotle stresses that the supreme good is reached when an activity is in accordance with virtue and of rational thought. It is almost always true that a virtuous, rational thinking person, who’s actions reflect the supreme Good, will be truly happy in their
Many philosophical thinkers have attempted to explain the question of what makes human beings happy and how this happiness can be spread to the greatest number of people. This issue is perhaps one of the most challenging to tackle because there are so many different ways for people to achieve happiness. Scholars such as John Stuart Mill and Aristotle attempt to point out universal truths by defining key aspects of happiness such as pleasure and attempting to do good. They both bring up valid, respectable ideas that tell us a lot about how to act so that all of mankind will benefit. However, there is some difficulty in applying these ideas in the real world because of how varying and unpredictable people may be.
Utilitarianism …show more content…
However, he does say that everyone agrees that the supreme Good is happiness (Ross, 1998). Everyone’s actions are directed at some end that is considered good. Sometimes the action is a means to an end, rather than being an end in itself. This approach, which does not exemplify the supreme Good, is basically only doing good for its consequences. Other actions are ends in themselves and are pursued for their own intrinsic value. These actions are seen as the supreme Good and are necessary for our existence. Everyone should act in a way that, if all people acted in this way, everyone would be well off. For example, a person might tell a lie to reach a higher position at their company. If everyone lied just to get ahead then there would be no such thing as a promise. Without promises, we would most likely cease to exist. This is why everyone should strive to achieve the supreme Good so that we all benefit. Aristotle also talks about the different ways people see happiness. Some think that receiving honors and recognition is true happiness, but honors are actually the recognition of the good itself. He says that virtue and intelligence are only good because they result in happiness (Ross, 1998). He says that a human’s distinctive quality is their ability to rationally think. Aristotle stresses that the supreme good is reached when an activity is in accordance with virtue and of rational thought. It is almost always true that a virtuous, rational thinking person, who’s actions reflect the supreme Good, will be truly happy in their