What does it mean to be happy? It’s a query that has baffled great minds for thousands of years, and yet it remains as elusive as ever. In our busy life, where we’re regularly exposed to images of the "perfect life," defining happiness can appear as trying to grasp a shadow. But take heart, philosophers has been wrestling with this inquiry for centuries, and studying its ancient roots can offer us useful ideas into what happiness actually is.
The Greeks of antiquity were some of the first to delve deeply into the notion of happiness. Aristotle, for example, suggested that true happiness, or "eudaimonic happiness," is achieved through virtuous living and fulfilling one’s potential. He suggested that happiness isn’t just a temporary feeling but a sustained experience that results from living a harmonious and meaningful life. In contrast, Epicurus championed a more straightforward view, believing that happiness comes from the quest for pleasure and the avoidance of pain—though, unlike what many believe, he prioritized higher pleasures over material enjoyment.
Fast forward to the present day, and the idea of happiness continues to evolve. Thinkers like Sartre suggested that happiness is subjective and tied to personal freedom, while others, like utilitarian philosophers, suggest that happiness can be measured by maximizing 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 time obsessed with success and material investment philosophy wealth, philosophy helps us remember that happiness is a personal quest, not a place to reach.