Happiness through the lens of philosophers

By Rebekah Marin

In the final segment of the Student Dilemma we’ll examine different philosopher’s viewpoints on where happiness comes from, how to attain happiness, and some of the few things that could be considered almost universal sources of happiness. Because the semester is coming to a close, it’s important to focus on positivity, and hopefully this insight into how philosophers view happiness will make you consider what you consider happiness to be, and where you derive it from.
The essence of happiness does not have a dictionary definition. Having happiness, becoming happy, or feeling happy is subjective. However, philosophers such as Aristippus thought that their theories had it all figured out.
Aristippus believed that happiness came from physical pleasure, not pleasure stemming from the mind. He said that the more intense and immediate something was, the more pleasure it would bring someone. Aristippus wanted only to focus on the present, and not worry about the past or the future. His theory can essentially summed up by using the modern acronym “Y.O.L.O”, meaning you only live once, so make the most of everything while you can.
On the other hand, the Epicureans believed focusing on long term peace of mind, and that rationality would lead to a long, stress-free and healthy life. Epicurus said that having only your basic needs fulfilled should be enough for someone to be happy; he was aiming more towards contentment. It is important to recognize that within these two viewpoints there are a number of variables that can change an individual’s mind about what it means to be happy.
There are a number of key “things” that a majority of the world’s population could probably agree on that bring them happiness, such as relationships, health, success, and money. It is these things that people strive to attain because they ensure positive feelings like love and a sense of belonging. Individuals may argue that you can still be happy without any of the things listed above, because happiness is a state of mind. To some people happiness can come from simply thinking positive thoughts and carrying out a lifestyle that exemplifies that mindset. For example, a person who may not have a lot of money can still be happy with what they have. Someone who is happy regardless would probably just hope that their financial situation will improve in the future. Instead of focusing on relationships with other people a person would focus on doing the best things for themselves and learning how to enjoy being “alone.” To people like this, having things that are material also would seem unnecessary within the essence of happiness.
Hedonism states that pleasure and happiness are the ultimate goals in life and that pleasure is the number one reason why humans take action. In other words, happiness is an end goal and not a state of mind. Hedonists basically view humans as selfish beings who only do things to bring themselves happiness, so to say that someone who helps others out of charity is not reasonable or believable. An ethical hedonist believes that seeking pleasure is best, but it is not a law within the means of living a good life. Some people may follow an individualistic hedonism way of living where they believe that bringing happiness to anyone but themselves is not necessary because being happy on their own is enough of a task. A universalistic hedonist believes in doing things in such a way that would be best for an entire society.
It is clear to see from the vastly different viewpoints outlined above that the essence of happiness is practically impossible to define. There are certain things that make different people, groups of people, or cultures happier than others. Certain beliefs, mindsets or material things have all been created to please different types of people, meaning that everyone has a different view on what makes them happy, and what happiness truly is. To me, happiness could mean having a positive outlook on life, having a few important relationships paired with a minimum amount of material things, but to another person my age happiness could mean gaining material objects, money, and power through self-seeking actions.