What Are the Main Ingredients of a Happy Life - Admission/Application Essay Example

A person who chooses the right and moral way will always achieve happiness according to him. Mill argues that a happy life is not a life which is full of moments of bliss but rather it is a life which consists of greater moments of happiness and fewer times of pain and unhappiness. Mill says that pleasures contribute to happiness. But he again classifies pleasure into two classes. There is a higher pleasure which is the pleasure of the soul and the lower pleasure is the pleasure of the body. He explains that higher pleasure provides more happiness than lower pleasure.

Higher pleasure includes gaining knowledge and working for the good of others. Example of lower pleasure is eating food and sleeping. Mill further explains that a person should keep an equilibrium and steadiness in excitement and tranquility which both contribute towards happiness. He puts forward that self-centeredness makes a person lose both of these qualities hence reducing happiness. If a person is provided both the right and the wrong way Mill suggests that a person should opt for the right and moral way of life.

This according to Mill would account not only for personal happiness but for the happiness of all. He believes that to best achieve happiness a person should gain proper knowledge and find happiness in everything that surrounds him and interests him. These things include music, art, history or nature. He believes that thinking about the happiness and good of others will also make a person himself happy. It is also necessary to achieve happiness that a person should be contented with what he has.

Want for more and greed can be a reason for unhappiness. He explains that so many people now are unhappy because everyone is self-centered thinking more about their own happiness and not for everyone. They do not realize that good acts can lead to happiness. People have started thinking that if they do not obtain certain things they would be unhappy.