Relationship between Good and Happiness - Essay Example

Relationship between Good and Happiness

Introduction

The idea of how people perceive happiness and good reveals the different values that people hold dear and how they carry themselves during the different periods. The philosophical perception of happiness is derived from good acts, which position human’s place in the society. This discussion, therefore, invites a reflection of how the concept is perceived in the society and how happy or good people tend to carry themselves. The word happiness is often defined as the things that people condition as the most desirable or worthwhile aspects of one’s life. However, philosophers state that happiness is the extent to which one is contented or satisfied with life. Therefore, the topic can be regarded as subjective as it varies from one individual to another. This paper seeks to analyze existing relation amid “happiness” and “good” using works of different philosophers. However, a typical understanding from the philosophers is that good actions lead to happiness, an aspect that makes people feel content with life.

Critical analysis

Different philosophers have varied perceptions concerning the present topic. According to Kant, in his article “Discourse on Happiness” he states that happiness should not be considered as a philosophical concept. However, Nietzsche’ on the other hand has a perception that happiness is a vital philosophical concept. The different philosophers seek to understand whether there are various attributes which should be attached to happiness. However, some perceive human happiness to be linked to natural aspirations.

Nietzsche uses a simple illustration to express what happiness entails in his work. The author gives an example of a cow which lives without boredom because it leads the present life as it cannot remember. The philosopher compares the beast’s life to that of a human being and feels that the animal is better off than man. However, although the beast is happy, it cannot remember its past and thus cannot confirm its happiness. The philosopher, therefore, suggests that the unmindful state led by the cow gives it happiness while at the same time takes it away. The illustration expresses the need for active forgetting, which is a willful abandonment of the past by the people, an ability which is beyond the beast’s capacity.

Nietzsche calls for people wishing to be happy to abandon their past as history is considered as a ghost that disturbs the peace enjoyed at the present moment, an issue that has been debated by other scholars. For instance, he states that when one involves himself in too much history, it precludes his happiness. Therefore, people should use their past if only it contributes to the present life, contributing to a better life. Active forgetting is thus used to overcome the history that may haunt events in the present life.

Kant in his work “Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals” on the other hand considers that there is nothing that can be considered good if it lacks limitations in exception of good will. For instance, he states that different attributes that make humanity such as talents of the mind, courage or temperament levels can be perceived to be good and desirable as they play vital roles in one's life. However, they have a limit beyond which they will not be considered to be good. The scholar states that it is the goodness of a person that brings happiness but with limitation as beyond some level, it brings arrogance, which is hurting to self.

From this paper, it is evident that there is a thin line between happiness and good; however, the two aspects marry each other. The philosophers agree that human good are activities which seek to achieve a specific reasoning and they are required for one to achieve happiness. However, happiness can be achieved when one achieves the highest level of good which is the ultimate goal of every human being. The pleasure that people feel is thus used to inform on issues/factors that influence the well-being of individuals, contributing to happiness.

In Nietzsche’s essay, the author pity’s the cow for its inability to transcend its natural will to live as he does not find the cow to understand the meaning of life. However, the author also points outs that the cow’s capacity to forget has a significant implication to human life. He suggests that a person who is incapable to forget will not be in a position to find meaning in life and will, therefore, lack happiness. The articles thus assert that man people should develop a memory to give a historical sense of direction which should surpass that of the animals.

However, the extent of the memory ought to be limited to absorb only the experience that will not haunt the present life. The line amid an individual’s history and present is the horizon, which includes the fundamental assumptions that lie unquestioned as per the truth. The perception triggers concerns on the issue of the monumental individual.

Although the scholar critiques the need to embrace history, he also shares the vital benefits of appreciating the past. Some of the acknowledged benefits include the need to use history in determining a person’s life and thoughts. Lack of eternal truth as he considers that there are no horizons. Nonetheless, the scholar warns of the danger of having excess knowledge about the past, which can haunt the quality of the present life. Therefore, happiness according to the scholar is determined by the past, present, and future, but there is a limit to which the past knowledge should be applied.

Du Chatelet in her work suggests that happiness is derived from individuals’ passion. Passion according to her remains to be the key source of happiness and not good actions as indicated by the other scholars. She states that people fail to get happy because they fear public shame which restricts their acts. For instance, she states that people who like studying like her should pursue education as it brings happiness to them. Besides, what brings happiness to one person does not necessarily have to be dependent on others. Furthermore, she states that illusion can be considered as another source of happiness. If one thinks that falling in love makes him/her happy, then the person should pursue love.

For instance, the author (Du Chatelet) states in her numerous letter to her lover that the only thing that brings happiness to her is her love to her partner. Additionally, she states that she enjoys writing to him and his company which she cannot do without. The letters written to her partner, for instance, shows the pleasure of her feelings which acts as the main source of happiness.

In her final message to her readers, the author advises them to that for them to lead a healthy life, they have to be happy. People should cherish their illusions and keep away memories that may trigger their sad past. Furthermore, that person should seek to find a state that seeks to satisfy their happiness to be sorely dependent on themselves. That the path that one chose to follow should seek to give the person happiness.

Conclusion

The rationale of this paper was to analyze the relation amid good and happiness based on the reading of four philosophers. The study appreciates that the aspect of morality is closely related to happiness as supported by the readings. However, a shared understanding of all the readings is that good actions contribute to happiness, which can be shown by one being satisfied with life. In one of the articles, Nietzsche uses a simple illustration suggesting that a cow is happier than man as it does not have to worry about its past as it cannot remember. However, he also states that history plays a crucial role in our lives as it reminds us of our past success which can be used to plan the future. The perception is also echoed by the other scholars although they indicate that too much knowledge of the past experiences should not be allowed to ruin the present life. Du Chatelet, however, recommends that people wishing to lead a happy and healthy life should pursue things that they feel they bring happiness to their life. Additionally, she considers passion to be a key source of happiness in life, thus recommending that readers should embrace their passion.