Kant admits that happiness is something very difficult to define. He states: "The concept of happiness is such an indeterminate concept that, although every human being wishes to attain this, he could still never say determinately and consistently with himself what he really wishes and wills."
However in the Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, Kant suggests that attaining happiness is not just a want but a duty. He states: "To assure one's own happiness is a duty (at least indirectly); for the discontent with one's state, in a press of cares and amidst unsatisfied wants, might easily become a great temptation to the transgression of duty." I'm thinking that not recognizing this duty leaves one vulnerable to the dissatisfying results of false pursuits of happiness. Like Kant's example of a wealthy person who thinks there is happiness in wealth but then realizes it has no real value due to the anxiety in attaining and keeping it. Kant indicates that all men regardless have an innate sense to find happiness, referred to as inclination. The dilemma being that much of the time one's happiness results in the unhappiness of someone else therefore concluding that everyone could not possibly be happy at the same time. Even in the Eudemonist sense there are no guarantees or there is a great reliability on the individual's ability to achieve happiness. I see a direct conflict between desires, happiness and morality because much of the pursuit of happiness creates an abandonment of morality and desire fails to promote happiness, perhaps temporarily or at least at the achievement level. Aside from morality issues the end road for me is the question of the duty to assure happiness. Is there individual duty to assure happiness and if there is would each individual happiness lead to the ultimate happiness of society. I've always said, "If you want to be happy make the people around you happy". Make the world around you happy and you will be living in a happy world. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
