Human Existence and Happiness

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

no other reasonable end toward which we would direct our free will. For example, if human existence was sadness instead of happiness then we would consistently attempt to bring feelings of sadness into our consciousness, something that would be totally irrational. Although it seems that sometimes human beings do not act with happiness in mind, ultimately this state of beatitude is what people pursue. In general, human beings tend to pursue that which is pleasurable, even when it entails short-term loss or pain. All other ends, such as wisdom or courage, are simply means to achieve happiness.

3. Happiness cannot be based on the accumulation of material goods.

Many people assume that happiness is based on the accumulation of material goods and therefore pursue materialism as a key to happiness. However, material goods do not lead to happiness. For example, a man who buys expensive cars and keeps them in his garage may never even know the pleasure of driving any of them. He ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE: