Philosophical Issues in Happiness and Goodness - Essay Example

BEING HAPPY AND BEING GOOD Philosophers and thinkers are always the teachers, preachers, pioneers and spiritual leaders of their society. The foundations of their philosophy erect on human welfare and happiness of their fellow beings. Before the mighty French Revolution it were philosophers like Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau and others who awoke the sleeping nation from deep sleep of ignorance and slavery, and fought for the noble cause of equality and justice by their wonderful writings and valuable meditation. The philosophical theme behind the literature of that time paved the way towards equal distribution of power, pelf, possession and prestige for all strata of their society. Thus unjust measures enforced by the so called laws came to an end. Almost all the works ever produced in the history have philosophical identity. The philosophers’ writings on various subjects signify their philosophical ideas and themes which they articulate and suppose in order to distinguish between good and evil. Philosophy and logic are eager to study the techniques and theories applied in making distinction between correct and incorrect reasoning. Logic is, Copi views, the study of the methods and principles used to differentiate good (correct) from bad (incorrect) reasoning. (1986:3.) The main objective behind logic is analysis of ones own thinking, which helps an individual in evaluating the knowledge he has attained on the one hand and to support his mental growth and cognitive development on the other. Furthermore, comprehensive and in-depth examination of thinking is highly beneficial in order to draw out divergence between good and evil as well as right and wrong. The same is the case with the Hindu Brahman came across by Voltaire. Voltaire is of the opinion that levels of satisfaction as well as mode of feeling happy vary from one individual to the other. Since human societies have been divided into countless categories including caste, class, creed, community, clan, tribe, region, religion, race, age-group and socioeconomic status, their views, habits and thinking are also differ from one another. Some of the individuals seek happiness and contentment in simple and plain way of leading life within the set up of their personal little worries, little knowledge and commitment to their everyday tasks and routine life. On the contrary, another stratum of society declares knowledge and wisdom as the first and foremost thing, and struggles hard to seek more and more wisdom and foresight. The desire for acquiring for more knowledge realizes the individuals regarding the realities of life, death, soul and universe. The deeper one meditates the more his thirst increases regarding revealing the secrets of his personality as well as the natural phenomena. It not only wide opens new horizons of thoughtfulness and orientation with the objects of nature before him, but also makes him acquainted with the fact that all wisdom and knowledge he maintains is mere an eye-wash to judge and assess his environment, surroundings and society on the one hand, and the whole world and objects existing in the universe on the other. Being good and being satisfied are two different subjects; if one possesses goodness of character and personality, he cannot be stated as a mentally satisfied person. In the same way, a person leading an ordinary life without containing knowledge and wisdom, he may be a satisfied and happy person, as analyzed by Voltaire. He estimates that the fear of being ignorant even after spending forty long years with books as well as learning through other media, the Brahman feels uneasy and scares his ignorance. He declares his life as a futile one due to his lack of knowledge and wisdom. On the other hand, the old woman living in his neighborhood has least care of seeking any type of wisdom. Her trivial tasks and household achievement keep her busy, contented and satisfied. It proves the very fact that there exist divergent levels of satisfaction among individuals belonging to different categories of society. In the same way, the people who have been absorbed in their personal life, and do not have any care regarding the difficulties and miseries of others, look happier and satisfied. On the contrary, the individuals thinking for others are not only deprived of their private and personal life, but also remained highly worried and discontented. Looking into the life of the prophets, saints, philosophers, thinkers and writers, it becomes evident that these personalities always think of changing the very lot and fate of their people bringing light of wisdom and awareness to their minds and hearts. If man develops a habit of analyzing his thinking, all his actions will take a positive direction, for it is mind and thinking which control all the actions and steps taken by man. Linda Elder and Richard Paul (2000) have suggested seven universal intellectual standards, which are thought to be the scale to measure the intellect that includes clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth and logic. “The philosophical personalities”, Thomas & Thomas view, “represent an adventure in thinking. And when we examine the lives of the philosophers we find that the procession of a man’s thoughts can be as exciting a spectacle as the pageantry of a man’s deeds. Our world becomes wider, our imagination richer and our life more colorful and zestful as a result of our companionship with the travelers of the spirit and the pioneers of thought.” (1960:1). The same is the case with renowned philosopher of Victorian times John Stuart Mill, who has left indelible imprints on the pages of history by dint of his intellect, valuable philosophical works and theoretical frames. The principle of utilitarianism is one of the most significant works of J. S. Mill, which he has discussed in details in five chapters. In the first chapter, he describes the differences of opinions between philosophers while expressing their views about morality. The idea offers for the first code of morality and is based on the belief that makes distinction between right and wrong. "The utilitarian candidate", he views, "is the principle of utility, which holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure.” (1863:3). Mill vehemently stresses on the principle that every mans act must provide maximum pleasures for the others at large. He stands for the qualitative separation of happiness and considers moral and intellectual pleasure superior to physical pleasures. In addition, he makes a critical analysis of happiness and contentment, declaring the latter less significant and inferior one. Mill declares that mans sentiments, both favorable and unfavorable, are influenced by the principle of utility, which earns happiness for him. "The greatest happiness principle", according to him, "has had a large share in forming the moral doctrines even of those who even more scornfully reject its authority." (1863:8). REFERENCE Bristow, Duane. (December, 1991). What are the Characteristics of Intelligence? (Quoted in http://www.kyphilom.com/www/txt/smarts.txt) Copi, Irving M. (1986) Introduction to Logic 7th Ed. New York: Macmillan Godfrey, A. Blanton. (December 1996) Creativity, Innovation and Quality (Retrieved in http://www.qualitydigest.com/dec96/godfrey.html) Scriven, Michael & Paul, Richard (2007) Defining Critical Thinking Dillon Beach CA. (Retrieved in www.criticalthinking.org/aboutct/define_critical_thinking.cfm) Mill, John Stuart. (1873). Autobiography. Thomas, Henry. & Thomas, Dana Lee. (1960). Great Philosophers. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay. Read More