What is Happiness?

 In psychology, happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being which can

be defined by, among others, positive or pleasant emotions ranging from
contentment to intense joy.

 To behaviorists, happiness is a cocktail of emotions we experience when we do

something good or positive.

 To neurologists, happiness is the experience of a flood of hormones released in

the brain as a reward for behavior that prolongs survival.

 The hedonistic view of well-being is that happiness is the polar opposite of

suffering, the presence of happiness indicates the absence of pain. Because of
this, hedonists believe that the purpose of life is to maximize happiness, which
minimizes misery.

 Eudaimonia, a term that combines the Greek words for "good" and "spirit" to
describe the ideology. Eudaimonia defines happiness as the pursuit of becoming
a better person. Eudaimonists do this by challenging themselves intellectually or
by engaging in activities that make them spiritually richer people.

Aristotle
--> Aristotle believed that human flourishing requires a life with other people. Aristotle
taught that people acquire virtues through practice and that a set of concrete virtues
could lead a person toward his natural excellence and happiness.

--> According to Aristotle, there is an end of all of the actions that we perform which we
desire for itself. This is what is known as eudaimonia, flourishing, or happiness, which is
desired for its own sake with all other things being desired on its account. Eudaimonia is
a property of one's life when considered as a whole. Flourishing is the highest good of
human endeavors and that toward which all actions aim. It is success as a human
being. The best life is one of excellent human activity.

Eudaimonia

 “good spirited”
 Coined by Aristotle
 Describes the pinnacle of happiness that is attainable by humans.
 “human flourishing”
  From Nicomachean Ethics (philosophical inquiry into the nature of the good life
for a human being.)

– human flourishing arises as a result of different components such as

•Phronesis

•Friendship

•Wealth

•Power

• In ancient Greek society, they believe that acquiring these will surely bring the seekers
happiness, which in effect allows them to partake in the greater notion of what we call
the Good.

• As time changes, elements that comprise human flourishing changed.

• People found means to live more comfortably, explore more places, develop more
products, and make more money.

• Humans of today are expected to become “man of the world”.

• Supposed to situate himself in a global neighborhood, working side by side among

institutions and the government to be able to reach a common goal.

Principles
Principles of Human Flourishing

 Dignity of the Human person - innate personal values or rights which demands
respect for all people, regardless of race, social class, wealth etc.

 Common Good - sacrificing self-interest to provide for the basic human needs of
everyone makes the whole community flourish.

 Preferential Option for the Poor - when decisions are made by first considering
the poor.

 Subsidarity - when all those affected by a decision are involved in making it.
  Universal Purpose of Goods - the Earth's resources serve every person's needs,
regardless of who "owns" them.

 Stewardship of Creation - duty to care for the Earth as a (God-given) gift is a

personal responsibility for the common good.

 Promotion of Peace - everyone has the duty to respect and collaborate in

personal relationships, and at national and global levels.

 Participation - everyone has the right and the duty to take part in the life of a
society (economic, political, cultural, religious)

 Global Solidarity - recognition that we are all interconnected, part of one human
family.

Different Conceptions of Human Flourishing

Conceptions
Eastern
• Focus is community-centric

• Individual should sacrifice himself for the sake of society

• Chinese Confucian system

• Japanese Bushido

• Encourage studies of literature, sciences, and art for a greater cause

Western

 More focused on the individual

 Human flourishing as an end

 Aristotelian view

 Aims for eudaimonia as the ultimate good

Science, Technology and Human Flourishing

 Every discovery, innovation, and success contributes to our pool of human

knowledge.
 Human’s perpetual need to locate himself in the world by finding proofs to trace
evolution.

 Elicits our idea of self-importance

 Technology is a human activity we excel in as a result of achieving science.

 Good is inherently related to the truth.