The philosophy of happiness, explained in 10 minutes | Jonny Thomson

Summary

In this insightful discussion, Jonny Thompson explores the philosophical quest for happiness, diving into Aristotle's concept of eudaimonia, the Daoist metaphor of life's path, and the core principles from various schools of thought like Stoicism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. He introduces three key pillars of happiness: rejecting the pursuit of mere pleasure, embracing moderation, and understanding that true happiness stems from virtuous living. Thompson draws on real-life examples, such as parenting and dieting, to show how these principles can guide us towards a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Aristotle argues that everything we do in life is for some further purpose, with happiness being the ultimate end goal.
• 😀 Happiness is often misunderstood as a mere emotional state (like a smile), but true happiness is deeper and relates to the soul's contentment.
• 😀 Daoism offers an analogy of life as a dense, thorny forest, with multiple paths to happiness, but some are harder and lead to difficulties.
• 😀 Different philosophical schools, including Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Buddhism, offer their versions of happiness, each trying to sell their path as the best.
• 😀 The idea of 'finding the right path' to happiness is central across many philosophical and theological traditions, including Confucius, Aristotle, and Al-Ghazali.
• 😀 The first pillar of happiness is that it cannot be measured by pleasure alone. Hedonia (pleasure) and eudaimonia (flourishing) are distinct, with the latter being harder to grasp.
• 😀 Buddhism teaches that pleasure is a desire satisfier, and the constant pursuit of pleasure leads to an unwinnable game, as desires are endless.
• 😀 Suffering is not inherently necessary for happiness, and we should avoid the fallacy that suffering alone leads to flourishing.
• 😀 The second pillar is moderation, which is about finding balance in life. This concept is embodied in Daoism's 'middle way' and the Swedish idea of 'lagom' (just the right amount).
• 😀 The third pillar emphasizes that happiness is an emergent state of goodness and virtue. A virtuous life leads to happiness, and kindness, altruism, justice, wisdom, and humility are key virtues.
• 😀 Virtues are universal across cultures and times, with kindness, altruism, and wisdom being foundational. However, vice (egoism, cruelty, ignorance) must be avoided to lead a truly happy life.

Q & A

What is Aristotle's view on the purpose of life?

Aristotle believes that everything we do in life is for a further purpose, ultimately aiming for happiness, which he considers the end point of all human endeavors. Happiness is achieved through eudaimonia, or flourishing, rather than simple pleasure.

How does the concept of happiness differ from the way it is often portrayed on social media?

Happiness is commonly associated with external displays of joy, like smiling faces in selfies. However, the speaker argues that true happiness is a deeper, more internal state—what he calls a 'smiling soul'—which is more about fulfillment than mere pleasure.

What analogy does Daoism offer for understanding the pursuit of happiness?

Daoism compares life to a dense, thorny forest with a well-paved superhighway at its center. The highway represents an easier path to happiness, while other paths are more difficult but can eventually lead to happiness. This metaphor highlights how happiness is often found through challenging experiences rather than simple pleasures.

What are the three 'pillars' of happiness identified by the speaker?

The three pillars of happiness are: 1) Happiness is not measured by pleasure; 2) Happiness requires moderation; 3) Happiness is an unavoidable, emergent state of goodness that comes with virtue.

What does the first pillar suggest about pleasure and happiness?

The first pillar argues that happiness should not be equated with pleasure (hedonia). While pleasure can be enjoyable, true happiness (eudaimonia) comes from more profound and sometimes challenging life experiences, like raising children, which may not be immediately pleasurable but lead to lasting fulfillment.

How does the concept of moderation apply to happiness?

Moderation, seen in Daoism and other philosophies, suggests that extreme behaviors—whether in pleasure, work, or diet—are counterproductive. The middle way, or balance, leads to greater happiness. For example, extreme dieting often fails, whereas moderate, flexible approaches to eating tend to be more sustainable.

Why does the speaker emphasize goodness as essential to happiness?

The third pillar suggests that true happiness is linked to virtue. Those who are virtuous—kind, altruistic, and humble—tend to find happiness through deeper, meaningful connections with others. Meanwhile, immoral people may appear happy but are often shunned by society, which ultimately affects their long-term well-being.

How do different philosophical traditions view the role of virtue in happiness?

Across various philosophical traditions, such as Christianity, Islam, and Ancient Greek philosophy, virtue is seen as central to happiness. Altruism, kindness, justice, wisdom, and humility are all key virtues that contribute to living a good and happy life.

What is the connection between moderation and the Swedish concept of 'lagom'?

'Lagom,' a Swedish concept, refers to finding 'just the right amount.' It embodies moderation by encouraging balance in consumption, sharing, and personal behavior, aligning closely with the philosophical idea that happiness comes from neither excess nor deficiency but from finding the middle path.

How can we apply these three pillars to improve our happiness in everyday life?

To apply these pillars, we can reflect on which area might be hindering our happiness. Are we confusing temporary struggles with unhappiness? Are we engaging in extremes rather than balanced choices? Or, are we acting in ways that undermine our virtuous nature? Recognizing and adjusting these areas can lead to greater happiness.