Happiness

"Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions." This book delves into the ways humanity has sought happiness across history, from divine blessing to a human right.

1. Early Views on Happiness Were Tied to the Divine

In the ancient world, happiness was not seen as a human entitlement. Instead, it was considered a gift from the gods—something out of human control.

In societies such as Ancient Greece and during the time of the Persian Empire, people lived in challenging conditions marked by poverty, disease, and oppressive rulers. With survival itself being a struggle, happiness seemed like a luxury that was solely in the hands of divine will. Life, with all its uncertainties, was best left in the hands of higher powers.

However, this view started to shift with the emergence of democracy in Athens after the Persian Empire's fall. Philosophers like Socrates and Plato began asserting that reason and ethics could help individuals shape their happiness. They believed it wasn’t just divine; happiness was also a virtue human beings could pursue. For Aristotle, happiness was deeply connected to one’s earthly existence and fulfilling one’s role in society.

Examples

• Socrates taught his followers to question life and seek a deeper understanding of themselves for true happiness.
• Plato envisioned happiness as reaching a state of harmony in the soul.
• Aristotle described happiness as "eudaimonia," which emphasized self-fulfillment and living virtuously on Earth.

2. The Renaissance Sparked a New Sense of Possibility

The Middle Ages painted life as grim, and happiness was a distant ideal linked with the afterlife. However, during the Renaissance, people began to view happiness as attainable on Earth.

This period followed the devastation of the Black Death, and as Europe recovered, new perspectives on human potential emerged. Renaissance thinkers like Giovanni Pico della Mirandola argued that humans had the ability to shape their own lives. In his influential work On the Dignity of Man, Mirandola wrote that striving for knowledge and self-refinement could lead to earthly happiness, while true joy still required faith and closeness to God.

Philosophers of this era maintained that balanced living—combining intellectual pursuits, creativity, and spiritual connection—was essential for happiness. Though heaven remained an ultimate goal for many, the seeds of humanism and the empowerment of individuals were firmly planted during this transition.

Examples

• During Renaissance Italy, frescoes and artworks celebrated human potential and joy, from Michelangelo's ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.
• Pleasure gardens emerged, offering spaces for people to unwind and celebrate life.
• Literature of the period emphasized personal improvement, self-expression, and the joy of earthly existence.

3. The Enlightenment Turned Happiness into a Right

The Enlightenment brought intellectual movements that established happiness as a natural and reachable goal during one’s lifetime. Thinkers like Voltaire and Claude-Adrien Helvétius introduced ideas shifting focus from divine providence to individual freedom and earthly joys.

Voltaire encouraged people to find joy in their experiences and environment, describing Earth itself as a paradise. Philosopher Helvétius composed poetry articulating happiness as a shared human aspiration, accessible through reason and virtue. An optimistic view of humanity’s capacity to create better lives gained ground. This period also popularized the development of pleasure gardens, settings designed solely for enjoyment, much like amusement parks today.

Happiness was no longer just an abstract ideal—it was embraced as a human right. By 1776, even foundational political documents like the United States' Declaration of Independence declared "the pursuit of happiness" an inalienable right.

Examples

• Voltaire’s Candide critiques the bleak philosophies of his time and advocates cultivating joy and community.
• The Declaration of Independence explicitly includes happiness as a right.
• European cities invested in accessible gardens where ordinary citizens could enjoy nature and entertainment.

4. Pain and Sadness Became Stepping-Stones to Happiness

By the late 18th century, a counter-current emerged: the realization that sadness was a natural and even valuable part of life. Romantic art, poetry, and literature expressed the richness of melancholy.

Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther captured the hearts of readers who identified with its portrayal of heartbreak and longing. This introspection painted sadness as something not to fear but to embrace as a step toward greater emotional insight. Jean Paul introduced the term Weltschmerz ("world pain") to describe the universal sadness experienced by many during this era.

While melancholic, this acceptance of sadness gave it a purpose. Challenges and emotional struggles became tools for personal growth, illustrating that joy and sorrow often work hand in hand.

Examples

• Readers wore blue frocks and vests to mimic Goethe’s protagonist, demonstrating how sadness shaped a cultural movement.
• Heinrich Heine expanded on Weltschmerz, bringing it into Romantic poetry.
• Christian theology after this period often emphasized that earthly struggles prepared believers for heavenly rewards.

5. America’s Declaration of Happiness Brought Legal Confusion

After the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Americans interpreted their "right to the pursuit of happiness" in different, sometimes surprising ways. For some, happiness became part of their legal expectations.

Hundreds of lawsuits were filed shortly after the Declaration was enacted, as people demanded the government deliver happiness itself. While legal redress wasn’t feasible, Benjamin Franklin clarified the issue, stating that while happiness was a right, achieving it required individual effort.

This sentiment also matched the core of the American Dream: the possibility of improving one’s circumstances through diligence and ambition. Franklin believed cultivating happiness was like making wine—God provided the grapes, but it was up to humanity to press them.

Examples

• Thomas Jefferson included "the pursuit of happiness" in one of the most important documents in U.S. history.
• People sued the U.S. government, asking for reparations for perceived failures to fulfill their happiness.
• Franklin’s letters encouraged personal work and responsibility, often using agricultural analogies.

6. Communism Proposed Happiness Through Community

Not everyone agreed that happiness was an individual pursuit. Communist thinkers like Friedrich Engels argued that self-centered capitalism hindered true joy. They believed happiness required solidarity and a sense of belonging within the community.

Marxist ideology suggested that the class struggle and division robbed society of its moral compass, promoting selfishness over shared well-being. Transforming to a classless society, according to communists, would restore balance and bring happiness for all.

This communal mindset contrasted sharply with Western ideals fostered by Franklin and Adam Smith. It emphasized the importance of unity over personal ambition, proposing that people are happiest when working toward a shared goal.

Examples

• Friedrich Engels described capitalist societies as alienating, reducing joy to material gain.
• Soviet literature often depicted collective farm success stories as the epitome of happiness.
• Marx's critiques of individualism permeated political activism worldwide.

Takeaways

1. Reflect on what happiness means to you personally, combining both individual goals and relationships with others.
2. Accept that sadness is natural and often necessary to help you grow and appreciate joy more deeply.
3. Take responsibility for your own happiness and align it with values beyond temporary pleasures.