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Introduction
The ethical principle in pursuing happiness can be largely attributed to the utilitarian point of view. Under utilitarian ethics, pursuing the highest level of happiness for the greatest number of people is considered as the basis of what is considered as ethical or not (Veenhoven, 102). The utilitarian view regarding happiness is shared by most people. In fact, happiness can be considered as a major goal in life; the end goal of the majority of individuals in human society. However, there are no rigid rules or principles that define what happiness is. Most scholars suggest that happiness is relative and the circumstances that create happiness vary among individuals. As observed, “people have a remarkable ability to adapt, both to bad fortune and to good, so that one’s life circumstances, unless they are very bad indeed, do not seem to have lasting effects on one’s mood” (Lykken, & Tellegen, 186). For the same reason, the level of happiness could not be measured on the amount of wealth an individual has accumulated, on his educational attainment, race, gender and the likes. This paper would like to determine the meaning of happiness as well as the logical and ethical basis of pursuing it.
The Nature of Happiness
The pursuit of happiness has led some scholars to extensively inquire about the nature of happiness. Some, for instance, wonder whether happiness is related to genetics while others try to understand happiness under the principles of human psychology (Lambert, 27; Veenhoven, 125). The first assumption that happiness is genetic in nature has been tested, but the results are quite inconclusive. According to research, there could be some genetic influence on happiness, although it is not sure whether the happy mood is influenced by genes or it can also be due to the effect of situations or circumstances (Veenhoven, 126). The second assumption that happiness is psychological in nature is more feasible. As observed, “good psychological health is depicted as a fairly sure ticket to happiness” (Veenhoven, 127). One the other hand, some people believe that the meaning of happiness is similar among individuals while others believe that happiness is subjective (Mogilner, Kamvar, & Aaker, 1). The first assumption suggests that happiness can be achieved collectively while the latter assumption suggests an individualistic view on happiness, which means that each individual have a different perception on what happiness is. Empirical studies, however, suggest that happiness could lie in between, which means that it can have a collective and individual aspect (Mogilner, Kamvar, & Aaker, 1). Under the utilitarian point of view, happiness can be defined as “the degree to which an individual evaluates the overall quality of his/her life-as-a-whole positively” (Veenhoven, 106). This particular definition of happiness supports the idea that happiness can be pursued that that society should pursue higher levels of happiness, if not for everyone, at least for the majority. Most people, for instance, evaluate their happiness based on the quality of their life as a whole and not based on temporary circumstances. While the problems and life stresses could not be avoided, a person does not necessarily consider his life as unhappy. Also, while feelings of happiness are intermittent and last only temporarily, the overall perception of happiness is quite stable.
Ethicallity of Pursuing Happiness
Happiness is closely associated with health and well-being and vice-versa. Physically and psychologically healthy people, for instance, are believed to have a more stable grasp on what makes them happy and is more successful when it comes to pursuing happiness (Veenhoven, 127). People who find themselves happy also those who live a more fulfilling and productive lives. For the same reason, the utilitarian principle of pursuing happiness is ethical because it provides positive benefits not only to the community, but also to the individual. This assumption that happiness is desirable provides a framework for positive psychology. Positive psychology has been defined as “the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive”. Unlike traditional psychology, which focuses on the weakness of an individual, positive psychology is founded on the belief that “people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play”. Traditional psychology, for instance, studies human suffering and misery and how to alleviate them while positive psychology aims to understand the factors that influence human happiness and well-being and provides intervention on how to achieve a fulfilling life. As observed by scholars, “positive psychology aims to develop interventions that build the enabling conditions of life, not just interventions that decrease misery” (Seligman, 2010, p.233).
Conclusion
Happiness can be collective as well as individualistic. There are, for instance, certain things that makes most people happy while there are also things and circumstances that make happiness relative to an individual’s perspective. But despite the different views towards the nature of happiness, it is still worth pursuing. Under the utilitarian perspective, pursuing happiness is ethical, especially when happiness affects the majority. Pursuing happiness is one of the major tenets of positive psychology. Positive psychology supports the utilitarian view of happiness by making psychological interventions that help individuals develop behaviors that promote happiness. Considering the benefits that happiness brings to individuals and their community, it could not be argued that pursuing happiness is indeed an ethical choice.
Works Cited
Lambert, C. "The Science of Happiness." Harvard Magazine (2007): 26 - 30.
Lykken, D., & Tellegen, A. "Happiness is a Scholastic Phenomenon." Psychological Science (1996): 186 - 189.
Mogilner, C., Kamvar, S., & Aaker, J. The Shifting Meaning of Happiness. 2011. January 2016 <https://faculty-gsb.stanford.edu/aaker/pages/documents/ShiftingMeaningofHappinessNov2010.pdf>.
Seligman, M. "Flourish: Positive Psychology and Positive Interventions." The Tanner Lectures on Human Values (2010): 231 - 243.
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. Positive Psychology Center. 2016. January 2016 <http://www.positivepsychology.org/>.
Veenhoven, R. "Is Happiness a Trait?" Social Indicators Research (1994): 101 - 160.
