What is happiness? It’s a question that has puzzled thinkers for millennia, and yet it still eludes us. In our contemporary world, where we’re always flooded with images of the "dream lifestyle," figuring out what happiness means can seem like trying to grasp a shadow. But have no fear, the study of philosophy has been wrestling with this issue for centuries, and studying its ancient roots can provide valuable insights into how we define true happiness.
The philosophers of Ancient Greece were some of the first to seriously consider the concept of happiness. The philosopher Aristotle, for example, argued that true happiness, or "well-being," is derived from living a life of virtue and living up to one’s abilities. He claimed that happiness isn’t just a passing state but a way of life that comes from living a meaningful and intentional life. In contrast, Epicurus supported a simpler approach, arguing that happiness is achieved by the seeking of pleasure and the escape from pain—though, despite common misconceptions, he prioritized intellectual and spiritual pleasures over physical gratification.
In the present day, and the idea of happiness remains relevant. Thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre suggested that happiness is subjective and connected to personal freedom, while others, like utilitarian philosophers, suggest that happiness can be determined by maximizing investment philosophy well-being for the most people. The appeal of philosophy is that it doesn’t prescribe a one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, it provides different viewpoints, urging us to ponder what happiness means to each person. In a world obsessed with success and possessions, philosophy helps us remember that happiness is a personal quest, not a place to reach.