Happiness And Happiness: The Nature And Definition Of Happiness

1.Introduction

1.1

What is the highest of all goods achievable by action? …both the general run of man and people of superior refinement say that it is happiness… but with regard to what happiness is they differ. (Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics, Book 1, Chapter 4)

1.2

The nature and meaning of happiness have been discussed over centuries by religious figures, philosophers and social scientists. In the American Declaration of Independence the pursuit of happiness is listed as a fundamental right and even the ancient philosophers, such as Aristotle, enshrine happiness as a central purpose of human life, so it seems indisputable that it has always been the goal of most human beings.

1.3

Meanwhile money has acquired an important role in

Mainstream economic views people as highly individualistic and it assumes that the greatest social good comes from making market decisions in the own best interest. Nevertheless measuring the contentment of a population by market values is not really significant because it fails to recognize the non material determinants of personal happiness. 2.1.2 Social scientists from Yale university have researched human happiness around the world. One of the most common conclusions of the study: "The loss of Happiness in Market Democracies", by Robert E. Lane, from the year 2000, is that financial wealth is not the most important determinant of happiness. Beyond an annual per capita income equivalent to 10,000$ , happiness is a function of non-material factors such as family, friends, a meaningful role in life and basic freedoms. 2.1.3 In our western lifestyle we relate a sense of security and accomplishment to material possessions. Even though new material acquisition can make us happy for a short while by increasing our a feeling of self worth it wont last long since it is like an eternal cycle. As soon as your contentment level of the purchase diminishes you need more acquisitions to reinstate the same

2.1.4 “The earned-success system that brings you happiness is the system of free enterprise that lifts people out of poverty,” Brooks said. “Don’t work for the stateism, the collectivism that suppresses this,” he added. “Work for the free enterprise that makes this possible.”(Arthur C. Brooks, „Free Market is the Secret to Happiness“ - A Billionaires’ PR Initiative) He argues that the free market system encourages investment and increases efficiency wich leads to a more advanced and richer nation which makes you happy and improves your well-being. Nevertheless researches show that citizens tend to be happier when policies are in place to assure fair wages and a social safety net which can’t be acomplished by a free market.

2.2

2.2.1 1972 Bhutan’s fourth Dragon King invented the Gross National Happiness (GNH) which doesn’t only measure the economical well-being of a country but its happiness level as well. The main aspects are: sustainable development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, establishment of good governance and conservation of the natural