Happiness

Happiness is often elusive in terms of definition, particularly any kind of absolute definition. In this respect, it is as difficult to define as are the concepts of love and what is God? This analysis will look at the beliefs and attempts to define happiness of the following men: Confucius, Buddha, Jeremy Bentham, John Mill, Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, and Mao Tse-tung.

Confucius advocated a this-worldly rational philosophy as the path to human happiness. There are three important concepts one must adhere to in order to achieve happiness, jen (humanity), li (reverence), and yi (rightness, duty). Jen involves kindness, goodness and benevolence for the self and towards others. The well-being of all things is considered. Li refers to rituals and rites, or reverence for the sages or ancient wisdom. Propriety is an important component of Li for it implies one has responsibilities arising from one's social position. Yi emphasizes rightness and duty, or the fittingness of behavior. Concern for others may be misdirected if a sense of what is right is missing "To avoid its leading to improper behavior, an affective concern for others has to be regulated by a sense of what is right, and departure from li in unusual circumstances or proper conduct in circumstances not covered by li also calls for assessment of what is right" (Honderich 149).

Buddha's teaching and Buddhism involve a method and practice as well as a philosophy when it comes

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tility is measured by the consequences which the actions tend to produce" (Honderich 85). Thus, when pain is minimized and pleasure maximized the actions taken are right. John Mill used Bentham's utility and utilitarianism as the basis for his own views on happiness. However, he added a note of idealism and humanism to it not present in Bentham's views. The highest value is achieving well-being in individual lives to Mill. According to him "Happiness is most effectively attained when society leaves people free to pursue their own ends subject to rules established for the general good" (Honderich 568). We desire all things from the association of them with happiness, according to Mill. In other words, happiness is the sole human aim. Education and experience are both capable of deepening our understanding of happiness. Virtues and morality have a place in our happiness, and Mill believes ideally they are included in happiness but he still argues that despite different degrees of happiness all valuations still result from it as the highest end of humankind "Some forms of happiness are inherently preferred as finer by those able to experience them fully�but these valuations are still made from within the perspective of happi

Category: Psychology - H