Being

Happiness, a noun, is defined as “the state of being happy.” It’s also been described as the state of well-being that encompasses having a good life. Employing dualism, Aristotle perceived the soul and the mind as different from the body. He believed that reason, being unique to man, was a prerequisite and that attaining happiness was the highest goal to living. Also important was the ability to control one’s passions and desires and that could be accomplished through knowledge and rationality. Aristippus of Cyrene, another Greek, considered to be the originator of hedonism, believed that pleasure was the only thing worth striving for, and that pleasure was good. It was important to seek gratification and avoid pain. It was pleasure that results in happiness. The wise man was the perfected man. Epicurus, advocated happiness or pleasure. However, he believed that tranquil states, the absence of pain, and minor satisfactions were important in attaining happiness. He thought that friendship was the best and safest of the social pleasures. He advocated being in the present, and eliminating sexual intercourse from his equation. Taking the position that good was considered pleasure and/or happiness was believed by Jeremy Bentham. He also thought that each person works towards his own happiness and believed in the principal “the greatest good is for the greatest number.” Coming from America, Thomas Jefferson believed that blacks were innately inferior to whites in terms of both mental, and physical capacity. Jefferson also believed that slavery was a violation of the natural rights of man. However, in the Declaration of Independence, slaves were equated as two thirds of white Homo sapiens. Perhaps in writing about “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” he was referring to his affair with Sally Hemmings. Happiness was thought of being related to knowledge, or rationality. It was considered on one hand, it is being the acting out of one’s sexual desires and on the other hand, it was about controlling one’s passions. Happiness was also thought to be about friendship and working towards the greatest good in mankind. More To Follow