VI. Read the text “Happiness” and give your definition of this notion happiness

For centuries, philosophers have regarded happiness, an extended form of joy, as the greatest human good. Most of us would like to be happy, if only we knew how. What makes people happy? Can we control how happy we are?

Try to list the things that would make you happy. The list compiled by the French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau consisted of a good bank account, a good cook, and a good digestion. Your own list might include getting your college degree, making a lot of money, and staying healthy. Although these objective circumstances seem related to happiness, they account for surprisingly little of the differences in happiness among people. In fact, health, wealth, age, gender, employment, and education – objective circumstances of any type – can not account for much of the difference.

If we return to some of the basic points made earlier, we can see why this may be so. First, emotions follow from events that involve change. A steady state of affairs, even though it is extremely positive, is unlikely to trigger the emotion of happiness. It is possible for a constant to produce feelings of contentment, if we stop and reflect upon our lives and see clearly that we have some of the things we want and that these can make us feel good for the moment. We must make the appraisal in order to feel the emotion. And according to the definition of emotion, this feeling will not last unless it is constantly renewed.

Second, almost all theories of happiness, from the observations of the ancient Greeks to the most modern views, have recognized the importance of goals and wishes to feelings of happiness. Thus, objective circumstances should relate to happiness only in those circumstances they are relevant to our goals. A person who cares about very little or who has very narrow interests in life has fewer chances to be happy – but it also less likely to encounter events that bring unhappiness.

Third, the aggravating truth is that happiness is always relative. This is because it is generally not objective events but our attitude to them that determine which emotion we experience. And our appraisals are usually based on some comparison, whether to our own past, to some ideal, or to others’ lives. How happy we are following a positive event depends on what we use as a standard for comparison. Earning 35. 000$ a year might seem terrific to a new college graduate used to getting by on a small allowance or part-time salary, but it is likely to be a comedown to someone who has been making 50 000$ a year.

VII. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. For centuries, philosophers have regarded happiness as the greatest human good.

2. A steady state of affairs triggers the emotion of happiness.

3. We must make the appraisal in order to feel the emotion.

4. Happiness will last without being renewed.

5. Subjective circumstances relate to happiness only in those circumstances that are important to our goals.

6. A person who has very narrow interests in life has all chances to be happy.

7. Happiness is always relative.