Philosophical Views on Achieving Human Happiness

Philosophical Conceptions of Happiness

Section 2: Happiness as the Supreme Aspiration

Happiness for him was the supreme aspiration of all human beings, the ultimate end to which man tends naturally and by which all other things are desired. Happiness was rather a kind of life, a life based on the constant exercise of the most proper and excellent human being. The secret of happiness was to live wisely.

Section 3: Epicurus on Pleasure and Pain

For Epicurus, happiness is reduced to pleasure and no pain. According to Epicurus, all humans seek through their actions to avoid pain and achieve pleasure.

Section 4: Stoic View of Happiness

For the Stoics, happiness was to achieve pleasure and avoid pain; however, these things are not always dependent on us and are not always in our hands. Happiness was also achieved in the peace and tranquility of the soul. The secret of happiness was in controlling the passions and resigning themselves to fate.

Section 5: Buddhist Awareness

For Buddhists, happiness is based on an awareness.

Section 6: Spinoza's Growth

The key to happiness for Spinoza is finding what makes me grow and avoiding what dwarfs me.

Section 7: Nietzsche's Comfortable Life

Happiness for Nietzsche is understood as peace and quiet: a comfortable and pleasant life, safe, free from worries and obstacles.

Section 8: Similarities and Differences

• Similarities: Both believed that the most important part of philosophy was ethics, seen as essential for happiness in life.
• Differences: The Epicureans believed that happiness consisted in pleasure and no pain, and the Stoics believed the contrary.

Section 9: Virtue: Aristotle vs. Stoics

For Aristotle, virtue comprised qualities of character which could be learned through exercise. For the Stoics, virtue was to accept fate; they saw it as something that could not be learned or practiced, but rather as the acceptance of fate. Aristotle saw virtue as something internal to the person, while the Stoics saw it as something internal that required outward acceptance.

Section 10: Decision Making for Happiness

For Aristotle, selecting the best course led to happiness through thinking before acting. For Epicurus, it involved knowing the consequences that every action might bring.

Section 11: Stoic Rejection of Pleasure/Pain as Sole Basis

The Stoics argued that happiness is not merely pleasure and no pain. If happiness consisted only of that, there might be something lasting and permanent, since for them, achieving pleasure and avoiding pain are things that do not always depend on us and are therefore not always in our hands. Nobody is free of pain and suffering.

Section 12: Nietzsche's Two Kinds of Happiness

Nietzsche speaks of two different kinds of happiness. One is peace: a quiet life as a comfortable and pleasant existence, safe, free from worries and obstacles.

Section 14: Epicurean Serenity

For Epicurus, happiness is the serenity resulting from the mastery of fear, pleasure, and the absence of pain. It is never too late to pursue happiness.