Exploring the Philosophy of Happiness: What Truly Makes Us Happy?

Happiness is a universal pursuit, yet its definition and attainment remain elusive. What truly makes us happy? Is it our achievements, love, pleasure, or material possessions??

Well, the answer is subjective. The meaning of happiness evolves as we journey through life's stages. As an 8-year-old, receiving a chocolate bar was pure bliss to me. At 15, witnessing Sachin Tendulkar score centuries brought immense joy. At 18, receiving appreciation from loved ones became paramount. At 22, nothing really brought happiness, but currently, at 27, my happiness revolves around receiving a monthly salary and cherishing moments with my beloved cats! (I know, I got to do better.)?

The origins of happiness differ as life unfolds. The philosophy of happiness dives deep into these inquiries, exploring happiness's essence, sources, and the paths to lasting fulfillment. In this article let us embark on a captivating expedition, delving into perspectives. By embracing the philosophy of happiness, we unveil the enigmatic secrets to living more meaningful, enriching lives.

Defining Happiness: Unraveling the Concept

Happiness is a subjective experience that varies from person to person and experience to experience, making it challenging to define and measure objectively. Here we explore the subjective nature of happiness, delve into philosophical approaches such as eudaimonia and hedonia, and examine the possibility of objectively measuring happiness. By gaining a deeper understanding of happiness, we can appreciate its complexity and explore ways to cultivate it in our lives.

Eudaimonia: The Pursuit of Flourishing and Meaningful Happiness

Eudaimonia is a philosophical concept that originated in ancient Greece, particularly associated with the teachings of Aristotle. It is often translated as "flourishing" or "well-being," representing a state of living a fulfilling and meaningful life. Eudaimonia goes beyond momentary pleasure or fleeting happiness and focuses on the overall quality and purpose of one's existence.

Key Aspects of Eudaimonia:

1. Virtue and Moral Excellence: Aristotle believed that eudaimonia is closely tied to the development of virtuous qualities. Virtues such as courage, wisdom, justice, and temperance are seen as essential for leading a flourishing life. Practicing these virtues allows individuals to align their actions with their true potential.

2. Personal Growth and Fulfillment: Eudaimonia emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization. It involves striving to fulfill one's potential, embracing challenges, and continuously developing one's skills and capacities. This pursuit of excellence contributes to a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

3. Meaning and Purpose: Eudaimonia involves living a life imbued with meaning and purpose. It requires individuals to reflect on their values, goals, and aspirations, and to align their actions with those principles. Engaging in activities that are personally meaningful and contribute to the greater good can enhance one's sense of eudaimonic well-being.

4. Relationships and Community: Eudaimonia recognizes the importance of social connections and the well-being of others. Building positive relationships, fostering empathy and compassion, and contributing to the well-being of the community are seen as integral to leading a flourishing life.

5. Balance and Moderation: Eudaimonia involves finding a balance between various aspects of life, avoiding extremes, and practicing moderation. It encourages individuals to make informed choices that promote overall well-being, considering physical, emotional, and intellectual dimensions.

Example: Choosing a profession that aligns with one's values and passions, allowing for personal growth, fulfillment, and the opportunity to make a positive impact in society.

Hedonia: The Pursuit of Pleasure and Immediate Gratification

Hedonia is a philosophical concept that focuses on the pursuit of pleasure and immediate gratification as a means to achieve happiness. It emphasizes the experience of positive emotions and the avoidance of negative experiences. Derived from the Greek word "hedone," meaning pleasure, hedonia places value on seeking pleasurable sensations and maximizing personal enjoyment.

Key Aspects of Hedonia:

1. Pleasure as the Ultimate Goal: Hedonia views pleasure as the primary goal of human life. It encompasses various forms of pleasure, including sensory pleasures (such as enjoying good food, music, or art), sensual pleasures (such as physical intimacy), and emotional pleasures (such as joy, excitement, or amusement). The focus is on maximizing positive experiences and minimizing discomfort.

2. Immediate Gratification: Hedonia emphasizes the pursuit of immediate gratification and instant pleasure. It places importance on indulging in activities that bring immediate satisfaction, often prioritizing short-term pleasures over long-term goals or delayed gratification.

3. Subjective Experience of Happiness: Hedonia places a strong emphasis on subjective well-being, where happiness is primarily measured by an individual's own assessment of their level of pleasure, enjoyment, and overall positive emotional state. The focus is on increasing the frequency and intensity of positive experiences.

4. Pleasure and Self-Centeredness: Hedonia can be seen as self-centered, as it places personal pleasure and gratification as the primary aim. It focuses on individual desires and seeks to fulfill personal needs and wants.

5. Potential Drawbacks: Critics of hedonia argue that solely pursuing immediate pleasure and gratification may lead to hedonic adaptation, where the pleasure derived from a particular experience diminishes over time. Additionally, it may disregard the long-term consequences or potential harm associated with certain indulgences, leading to a lack of balance and potential negative outcomes.

Example: Engaging in physical activities that bring pleasure and satisfaction, such as engaging in intimate relationships, receiving a massage or spa treatment, or participating in physical adventures like skydiving or bungee jumping.

Can happiness be objectively measured?

Happiness is primarily a subjective and internal experience, researchers have developed various approaches to objectively measure certain aspects of happiness. However, it's important to note that these measurements provide a limited understanding of an individual's overall well-being and subjective experience.

Subjective Well-Being (SWB) is a widely used construct to measure happiness and well-being. It typically includes two main components:

1. Life Satisfaction: This component involves individuals' self-reported assessment of their overall satisfaction with life as a whole. It often relies on rating scales or questionnaires to capture individuals' subjective evaluations of their life circumstances, achievements, and overall well-being.

2. Affect or Emotional States: This component assesses individuals' experienced positive and negative emotions. It aims to capture the frequency and intensity of positive emotions (such as joy, happiness, and contentment) and negative emotions (such as sadness, anger, and anxiety).

Researchers use various self-report measures, such as questionnaires or surveys, to collect data on subjective well-being. These measures provide insights into individuals' self-perceived happiness and life satisfaction.

Additionally, researchers have explored objective indicators that correlate with subjective well-being. These indicators include socioeconomic factors (e.g., income, education, employment), health and physical well-being, social relationships, and environmental factors. By examining the relationship between these objective factors and subjective well-being, researchers attempt to gain a broader understanding of the determinants of happiness.

A World Happiness Report has been published since 2012. People seem to be able to utilise happiness as appropriate in these linguistic settings because it is appraised, as in "How happy are you with your life as a whole?", and in emotional reporting, as in? "How happy are you now?," The report identifies the nations with the highest levels of happiness using these metrics. The main distinction in subjective well-being measurements is between cognitive life evaluations and emotional reports.

The World Happiness Report has employed the Cantril ladder method. Respondents are asked to picture a ladder, with a 10 representing their ideal life and a 0 representing their worst scenario. On a scale of 0 to 10, they are then asked to score their own current lifestyles.

The Pursuit of Pleasure vs. the Pursuit of Meaning

People frequently find themselves split between the pursuit of pleasure and the pursuit of meaning in their search for a meaningful life. On the one hand, it can be alluring to maximise pleasure and seek instant gratification. The quest of meaning, on the other hand, is motivated by a desire for significance, purpose, and a greater sense of fulfillment. Let's examine the idea of the hedonic treadmill, the significance of having a purpose and meaning in life, and how to integrate hedonia and eudaimonia to achieve a balance between pleasure and meaning.

The Hedonic treadmill

According to the hedonic treadmill, a psychological hypothesis, despite changes in their circumstances or the environment, people tend to return to a relatively steady degree of happiness or subjective contentment.

Despite initially feeling a surge of happiness and satisfaction, this adaptation diminishes the long-term impact of such pleasures. Pleasure, in and of itself, has limitations as a sustainable source of lasting happiness. The cycle of continuously seeking new and greater pleasures becomes a never-ending pursuit, as each experience or possession eventually loses its novelty and fails to provide the same level of satisfaction as before. This constant pursuit of pleasure can leave individuals feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled in the long run, as the hedonic adaptation continually resets their happiness set point. Hence, the hedonic treadmill highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to happiness, one that goes beyond fleeting pleasures and encompasses other dimensions, such as personal growth, meaningful relationships, and the pursuit of purpose and meaning in life.

The Role of Purpose and Meaning in a Fulfilling Life

Purpose and meaning play a crucial role in cultivating a fulfilling life. Having a sense of purpose provides individuals with a clear direction, a reason to wake up every day, and a feeling of significance in their actions. It involves aligning one's values, passions, and strengths with meaningful goals and pursuits. Meaning, on the other hand, goes beyond personal fulfillment and involves a broader connection to something larger than oneself. It encompasses the sense of belonging, making a positive impact on others or society, and contributing to a greater good. Purpose and meaning provide a sense of direction, intrinsic motivation, and a deeper level of satisfaction that goes beyond momentary pleasures. They give life a sense of depth, coherence, and fulfillment, as individuals feel a sense of purpose and understand the value of their contributions to the world around them.

Balancing pleasure and meaning involves integrating hedonia and eudaimonia in one's life. Hedonia focuses on the pursuit of immediate pleasure and gratification, while eudaimonia emphasizes the pursuit of a meaningful and purposeful life. Rather than viewing them as opposing forces, integration involves recognizing that both pleasure and meaning contribute to overall well-being. It means seeking moments of enjoyment and indulgence while also engaging in activities that align with one's values, passions, and personal growth. By striking a balance between the pursuit of pleasure and the pursuit of meaning, individuals can experience a more comprehensive and sustainable form of happiness. This integration allows for a fulfilling existence that embraces both the joy of present experiences and the deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment that comes from meaningful pursuits.

The Power of Relationships and Connections

The power of relationships and connections in our lives cannot be overstated when it comes to our happiness and well-being. Social bonds serve as a significant source of human happiness, providing us with love, support, and a sense of belonging. Deep and meaningful connections with others, whether through romantic relationships, friendships, or community involvement, bring joy and fulfillment. They offer a support system during challenging times and enhance our overall sense of happiness. Conversely, the impact of loneliness and isolation on happiness is profound. When we lack meaningful connections, feelings of loneliness can seep in, leading to a decline in well-being. Research shows that loneliness is associated with higher levels of stress, depression, and decreased life satisfaction. Therefore, nurturing and investing in our relationships, fostering strong connections, and building a supportive network of loved ones and friends are crucial steps towards cultivating happiness in our lives.

Gratitude and Mindfulness: Cultivating Inner Happiness

Gratitude and mindfulness practices hold the power to transform our inner happiness and overall well-being. Gratitude, the practice of intentionally recognizing and appreciating the good in our lives, has been linked to increased levels of happiness and life satisfaction. When we regularly express gratitude for the people, experiences, and blessings we have, we shift our focus towards the positive aspects of life and develop a more optimistic outlook. Mindfulness, on the other hand, involves cultivating present-moment awareness and non-judgmental acceptance of our thoughts, emotions, and experiences. By grounding ourselves in the present, we learn to appreciate the small joys in life, savoring each moment and finding contentment in the here and now. The art of savoring allows us to fully engage with the present experience, whether it's a delicious meal, a beautiful sunset, or a heartwarming conversation. By incorporating gratitude and mindfulness practices into our daily lives, we can enhance our inner happiness, foster a deeper sense of contentment, and develop a greater appreciation for the simple pleasures that surround us.

The Paradox of Choice and the Impact of Materialism

Having more choices does not necessarily lead to greater happiness. In fact, the paradox of choice suggests that an abundance of options can actually create decision paralysis and reduce overall satisfaction. When faced with numerous choices, individuals may experience increased anxiety, fear of making the wrong decision, and a sense of being overwhelmed. Moreover, the pursuit of material possessions as a source of happiness often leads to what is known as the hedonic treadmill. This phenomenon refers to the constant desire for more and better things, where the initial pleasure and excitement derived from acquiring new possessions quickly diminishes, and individuals find themselves on a perpetual cycle of seeking the next materialistic fix. This relentless pursuit of material goods fails to provide lasting happiness and can contribute to feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction.

However, an alternative approach gaining popularity is minimalism, which advocates for a simpler and more meaningful life by intentionally reducing materialistic pursuits. Minimalism encourages individuals to focus on what truly brings value and joy to their lives, shifting away from the accumulation of possessions towards experiences, relationships, personal growth, and a sense of purpose. By embracing minimalism, individuals can free themselves from the constant chase for material wealth and find contentment in a more intentional and mindful way of living. This shift towards minimalism allows for greater appreciation of what truly matters, promotes a sense of clarity and peace, and opens up space for more meaningful connections and experiences. Ultimately, it is the pursuit of a simpler, more meaningful life that can lead to a deeper sense of fulfillment and lasting happiness, transcending the superficial allure of materialistic desires.

The philosophy of happiness invites us to question our assumptions and explore the deeper aspects of human well-being. While there is no single formula for happiness, the insights gained from examining the nature of happiness, the pursuit of meaning, the power of relationships, and other factors can guide us toward a more authentic and fulfilling existence. By integrating these philosophies into our lives, we embark on a journey to discover what truly makes us happy and live in alignment with our deepest aspirations.