Happiness

Happiness

We desire happiness above all else, teaches the Church (1718). The desire we have for happiness motivates each of our **free will** acts. We tend to **value** things and acts to the degree that we believe that they will contribute to our happiness. The philosopher Boethius described happiness as the whole and perfect possession of unlimited life at once. [|[i]]

Aristotle taught that happiness is the highest good meaning: 1) That other goods are sought as means to happiness; 2) Happiness is sought as an end in itself. Aristotle and his contemporaries did not agree on what exactly constituted happiness, but four general notions cover their speculations. [|[ii]]

1) Happiness is **pleasure**. Pleasure refers to those experiences that please us by causing euphoric feelings. Pleasure as a definition for happiness fails the test. It’s obvious that people can experience pleasure while being profoundly unhappy. People can also be happy even when they are not experiencing euphoria. 2) Happiness is honor. Receiving an honor can cause one to be happy it suggests that the honoree enjoys the esteem of others thus reinforcing ones sense of **dignity**. Honor as a definition of happiness falls short. Honors can be withdrawn or not recognized by some. People can be happy even when they receive no honors. 3) Happiness is virtue or excellence. Virtue survives beyond pleasure or honor because it is intrinsic to the person. Could a virtuous person suffering under torture be happy? Socrates said yes; Aristotle said no. 4) Happiness is bodily goods (health) and external goods (wealth). Like virtue, health and wealth seem not to be sufficient to **cause** happiness, but they seem to be necessary at least to some degree.

Aristotle concluded that happiness is the fullest actualization of ones potential in one who is **self-reflective**. He defined humans as “rational animals” To be fully actualized human beings is to employ one’s rational capacity to the fullest extent. Aristotle taught that when we contemplate the divine we most fully actualized. This is what Boethius meant when he describes happiness as the whole and perfect possession of unlimited life at once.

[|[i]] Boethius. //Consolation in Philosophy// Book 5, Prose 6. [|[ii]] Budziszewski, J. //Written in the Heart.// (Inter Varsity Press. Downers Grove, IL.1997) p 18-24