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 to happiness. Human existence equates to suffering. All of this suffering can be attributed to desire. By ridding oneself of all desire, a condition called Nirvana, one achieves a cessation of suffering. This ideal state (happiness?) is achieved by following the Eightfold Path to righteousness: “right views, right intentions, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation” (Honderich 107). These beliefs are known as the Four...