Theme: Happiness

Task B

If many of us consider our goal in life, we are likely to choose happiness. At face value, this seems a
fair choice. We have all dealt with pain to some degree, and thus been unhappy. Some seem to face
a disproportionate amount of hardship and suffering, in comparison to others. Therefore, a goal to
be free from misery or pain might seem logical at first. Yet the reality is that the pursuit of happiness
“is one of the main sources of unhappiness in the world.” As Edith Wharton said, “If only we’d stop
trying to be happy, we could have a pretty good time.”

The truth is, if we strive for constant happiness, we are constantly going to be let down. There are
many things in life that we cannot control. Loss and grief are unavoidable, as is disappointment. If
happiness is the goal of life, then that will inevitably lead to greater upset at every setback.
Furthermore, if we could create a constant state of happiness, would we want to experience it?
Consider this, a theory proposed by AC Grayling; the water supplies could be filled with a happiness-
inducing chemical. If the supply is constant, then we can live the rest of our lives in a state of
permanent satisfaction, smiling through setbacks, uncaring and unfazed. The reality is, this would be
unbearable, comparable to a state of Nihilism. We could not grow, improve, discover, invent or
become wiser. Without pain, disappointment or upset, we cannot learn or grow. So, our goal in life
should be knowledge and self-improvement, not happiness.

“Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.” Ernest Hemingway alludes to my
previous argument. If we lived in a constant state of happiness, we could not learn, we could not
grow and we could not become wiser. Mistakes, setbacks, loss, disappointment, suffering and pain
make us more intelligent, empathic and aware. If our life goal becomes one of self-growth, then
happiness is likely to accompany this. A desire to learn and improve is the primary goal. If we tackle
and overcome challenges, then happiness is likely to arise as a side-effect. It is merely a sign we have
reached our goal, not the goal itself.

My point can be summarised with a popular philosophical question; “would you rather be an
unhappy Socrates or a happy pig?” This reveals our true values, for most of us would choose the
former, because we value our autonomy, intelligence and wisdom. We cannot choose happiness as a
primary life goal if we value these traits, because the two cannot co-exist. We cannot appreciate the
feeling of happiness without experiencing sadness, and we cannot become wiser without
experiencing pain. Nevertheless, we can attempt to become happier in daily life, by appreciating
what we have and learning to see the beauty in the humblest things. Being kind and respectful to
others, developing strong relationships, being hopeful and pursuing ambitions can bring about
happiness. While it should not be a life goal, we can aspire to make day-to-day changes that make
life more fulfilling. If we do not strive for happiness, then we are likely to be happier as a result.
Theme: Happiness

When asked to come up with a goal in life, many would choose happiness as the ultimate goal. This
appears to be a sensible option. We've all been miserable as a result of dealing with pain to some
extent. Some people appear to experience disproportionately more pain and suffering than others
As a result, a goal of happiness or relief from pain and misery may appear reasonable at first. Yet the
reality is that the pursuit of happiness “is one of the main sources of unhappiness in the world.” As
Edith Wharton once remarked, “If only we’d stop trying to be happy, we could have a pretty good
time.”

The truth is that if we strive for constant happiness, we will inevitably be disappointed. There are
many aspects of life over which we have no control. Loss and grief, as well as disappointment and
rejections, are unavoidable. If happiness is the goal of life, then there inevitably will be greater upset
at every setbacks.

Furthermore, if we could create a constant state of bliss and happiness, would we truly want to
experience it? Consider this hypothetical situation in which the water supplies could be filled with a
happiness-inducing chemical. With a constant supply with this elixir of joy, we can live the rest of our
lives in a state of permanent satisfaction, smiling through setbacks, uncaring and unfazed. The reality
is, this would be unbearable, comparable to a state of Nihilism. We could not grow, improve,
discover, invent, or become wiser. Without pain, disappointment or upset, we cannot learn or grow.
So, rather than happiness, our life goal should be knowledge and self-improvement.

“Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.” Ernest Hemingway alludes to my
previous argument. If we lived in a constant state of happiness, we could not learn, grow, or become
wiser. Mistakes, setbacks, loss, disappointment, suffering and pain make us more intelligent,
empathic and self-aware. If our life goal is to improve ourselves, happiness will almost certainly
follow. While the primary goal is a thirst for knowledge and excellence, happiness is likely to follow
as a result when we confront and overcome adversities and obstacles on the way. Happiness is
merely a sign that we have arrived at or come closer to our goal of improvement, not the goal itself.

This popular philosophical question summarises my point nicely - would you rather be an unhappy
Socrates or a happy pig? Most of us would choose the former, because we value our autonomy,
intelligence and wisdom, and this reveals our true values. We cannot choose happiness as a primary
life goal if we value these traits, because the two cannot co-exist. We cannot appreciate the feeling
of happiness without experiencing sadness, and we cannot become wiser without experiencing pain.

Nonetheless, we can try to be happier in our everyday lives by appreciating what we have and
learning to see the beauty in the humblest things. Being kind and considerate to others, developing
strong relationships, being hopeful, and pursuing aspirations can all lead to happiness. While it
should not be a life goal, we can strive to make small changes in our daily lives and attitudes to make
life more meaningful and fulfilling. If we do not strive for happiness, then we are likely to be happier
as a result.