Ethics as “Practical Philosophy”

Categories of Ethics and Concepts of Moral Consciousness

Happiness as an Ethical Category

At first glance, it may seem perplexing to consider happiness among the fundamental moral concepts, which, by their very nature, reflect universal and significant characteristics of morality.

On the surface, the notion of happiness suggests something that belongs to the individual and is their personal attainment; thus, happiness appears to be something individualistic that resists universalization. However, a more profound examination of the issue reveals that by contemplating the concept of happiness, the fundamental essence of morality acquires clarity as a personal life goal. The nature of what an individual "experiences," "lives through," and perceives as happiness significantly influences their proximity to the moral ideal.

Happiness, as an ethical category, denotes a unique psychological state in which a person experiences the fullness of existence, accompanied by a deep sense of moral satisfaction. The category of "happiness" reflects the degree of contentment one feels regarding the outcomes of their life activities. It is essential to note that, since desires and goals differ among individuals, happiness is understood in various ways.

Summarizing the most common notions of happiness, it is notable that for many, happiness consists of something evident and tangible—such as luck, satisfaction, wealth, and respect. The issue arises in understanding happiness when the pursuit of these aforementioned values begins to conflict with ethical requirements. Specifically, a contradiction emerges when the aspiration for personal happiness, understood as well-being and abundance, clashes with the moral imperative of being virtuous and fulfilling one's duty.

When happiness is perceived as luck or fortune, the individual exerts no influence over it; it does not depend on their efforts. However, not everyone who is fortunate experiences or perceives this as happiness. Furthermore, significant characteristics of happiness include its experiences and feelings.

A situation in which a person finds themselves or what they are experiencing can only be termed happiness when it is perceived as something satisfying and is accompanied by joy.

It is also important to consider both the objective and subjective aspects of happiness. Among the objective prerequisites for happiness (as well as for human existence in general) is the fulfillment of basic human needs. While the desire for material well-being and comfort is a normal human aspiration, equating these desires with happiness is misguided. Such satisfactions are accessible to both those who consider themselves happy and those who deem themselves unhappy. The same observation applies to wealth; it is undeniably challenging to be happy in poverty or misery, and one need not renounce the pursuit of prosperity. Nevertheless, wealth alone does not make individuals happy.

All the aforementioned elements (luck, wealth, respect, joy) are neither the causes of happiness nor its essence; they are merely favorable circumstances accompanying happiness.

A truly happy individual can only be so when they have "trained themselves to be as independent as possible from external goods and finds joy and satisfaction in striving towards a higher good."

Happiness cannot be measured quantitatively; its qualitative characteristic lies in the satisfaction derived from the fullness of life in the unity of its various manifestations.

Depending on the historical period, different goods may take precedence in the understanding of happiness in various societies and cultures. Yet, amidst the diversity of approaches, they consistently encompass factors such as health, external attractiveness, material wealth, social status, personal relationships, and individual development. Unlike mere satisfaction, happiness entails mastery or the aspiration to master most of these goods. In summing up the components of a happy person, one can identify traits such as health, beauty, substantial wealth accompanied by significant freedom of action, high social status, and, correspondingly, the respect of fellow citizens, harmony in love and friendship, and maximal success in work and creativity. Each of us, perhaps even unconsciously, yearns for these elements to be present in our lives.

Thus, one cannot help but agree with V.A. Malakhov's classification of the fundamental factors of human happiness, namely: a) satisfaction of human needs; b) an awareness of the meaningfulness of one’s existence; c) wholeness of being; d) fullness of existence; e) harmonious relationships with the surrounding world.

The key issue concerning happiness is its attainability. In ethical thought, two primary approaches exist to address this problem: optimistic and pessimistic. Optimism recognizes the reality and attainability of happiness in this life. Pessimism regards happiness as illusory and emphasizes the predominance of negative experiences over positive ones in human life.

There are no universal recipes for happiness; its mystery lies in the fact that happiness appears and exists only in the mutual communication or interaction among people: one cannot be happy in isolation. A person can only experience happiness when the entirety of their happiness encompasses the whole world, at least through the presence of their nearest loved ones. The possession of socially recognized components of happiness and the active experience of them as joyful and pleasant do not guarantee the ownership of happiness as a tangible entity. Only by giving can a person appreciate what they possess. Happiness can never be absolute or eternal; it is characterized by "temporality." A crucial factor in experiencing happiness is the individual’s ability to take joy in their actions and achievements.

Any individual notion of a happy life, no matter how peculiar it may be, is not free from social influence, which significantly shapes the entire value orientation system of the individual. However, the presence of social, that is, objective determinants concerning the individual does not imply a fatalistic predetermination of human destiny. Different people behave differently even under similar circumstances, demonstrating their personal autonomy and independence.

There is undeniable truth in the saying that "there is no happiness in life." This is because happiness is not a separate goal of activity or a personal life task, and in this sense, happiness indeed does not exist.

Happiness is not granted to a person as a gift of fate; it is an achievement attained through inner fruitful labor. Happiness is always accompanied by joy. Happiness and joy are companions of any fruitful activity—be it intellectual, sensory, emotional, or physical. Yet, while joy is linked to the experience of a singular event where an individual’s self-expression reaches its fullness, happiness is characterized as a "continuous and complete experience of joy" (E. Fromm).

The tragedy of unhappiness lies in the inability (whether objective or subjective) of the person to realize themselves, that is, to achieve or attain that for which they are destined as human beings in general, as citizens, or as individuals potentially capable of creativity.

The feeling and experience of happiness are epiphenomena (that is, by-products) of the pursuit of other meaningful goals that hold significance for the individual. For example, one may aspire to complete a certain task while simultaneously experiencing creative exhilaration and feeling happy. However, this joy and satisfaction arise spontaneously, independent of our efforts and endeavors; they come of their own accord. In contrast, focusing on the experience of happiness causes it to vanish instantly. Therefore, we can realistically strive only for the objective side of "happiness-possession": for actual health, well-being, a certain status, marriage, and relationships deemed "good." However, possessing the objective components of happiness does not guarantee the state of happiness. Genuine "happiness" always exists as an internal state of the individual, as an immediate experience—joy, satisfaction, pleasure, a sense of meaning in one’s life, its importance, and interest. Happiness should become the moral foundation of human activity; it is a consequence, an integral result of a morally sustained, virtuous life.