Happiness and Death - Essay Example

The paper “What Do Europeans and Americans Think of Pleasure, Happiness, and Death?" is an affecting example of a term paper on philosophy. Life is the most mysterious thing in this world. Nobody knows from where we come to this world and where we go after death. Because of the above uncertainties, people visualize their life in a different manner. Some people believe that life starts and ends in this world. On the other hand, many others believe that life in this world is temporary and eternal life is waiting for human after death.

Because of these contrasting beliefs, the former category of people tries to derive pleasure as much as possible from their earthly life while the latter category of people is ready to suffer in this life because of their anticipations about a happy eternal life after the death. In short, happiness and death are perceived differently by different people. It is not necessary that the things that give pleasure to one person may give the same thing to another person. This happens mainly because of the differences in perceptions about life among people.

Eric Weiner and Claudia Wallis have tried to answer the question; what makes a person happier. This paper critically analyses the arguments of these scholars about life, death, and happiness. According to Weiner, we derive pleasure from watching others engage in pleasurable acts; Americans derive pleasure from pornography while Europeans derive pleasure from cafes. In his opinion, cafes are theatres in which customers act as performers as well as the audience (Weiner 5). Different people have different ways of deriving pleasure.

Some people derive pleasure from their own activities while others derive pleasure from the activities of others. For example, Germany’s football world cup win made the players, as well as the Germans, feel happier. "Almost every person feels happier when they're with other people” (Wallis). Man is a social animal. He hates the idea of spending time alone. That is why God has created a female companion Eve for first human Adam. In order to become happy, it is necessary for the human to make his mind calm and peaceful.

An agitated mind always gives displeasure whereas a calm mind always gives pleasure. At the time of socializing, human get opportunities to shed his mental agonies and stress. That is why socializing is a pleasing act for all humans. The views of Wallis about socializing have been supported by Weiner. He has pointed out that extroverts are happier than introverts (Weiner 14). Extroverts are people who speak out whereas introverts are people who are unable to speak out. In other words, introverts keep their problems and stresses in their minds and they never bother too much to share it with others.

As a result of that problems and agonies get accumulated in their minds and they cannot be happy at any moment of their life. On the other hand, extroverts have the habit of cleaning their mind all the time. In other words, they release all their tensions, and anxieties while socializing with others. “Every religion instructs followers in the ways of happiness, be it in this life or the next, be it through submission, meditation, or devotion” (Weiner 10). Religious beliefs give pleasure to some people.

People who have belief in religion expect life after death. They believe that such as life will be eternal as well as pleasant. Therefore, they do not bother much about the sufferings in this life. Wallis also supported the views of Weiner. In her opinion, “religious faith genuinely lift the spirit, though it's tough to tell whether its the God part of the community aspect that does the heavy lifting” (Wallis). The thought about death would make some people happier and others sad.

In fact, the majority of people hate the idea of getting died or committing suicide. This is because of their uncertainties about life after death. Religions teach that the sinners may get hell while saints get heaven after the death. Nobody can claim that he/she is a saint on all accounts. Holy Bible says that there are no saints on earth and all the people on the earth are sinners. Therefore, life after death is a worrying factor for all. “You need to think about death for five minutes every day.

It will cure you; sanitize you (Weiner 65). Weiner believes that the lack of thoughts about death is forcing people to engage in wrong activities. If people spend at least five minutes every day for thinking about death, they will stay away from wrong activities. Life after death is a controversial topic To conclude, different things, activities and beliefs give happiness to different people. It is not necessary that the thing that gives pleasure to one person may give the same thing to another person.

Thought about death would help people to stay away from wrong activities.