What is this thing called happiness?
Abstract
Happiness is widely thought to be an — if not the — important good; something that we have reason to pursue for its own sake and try to bring to others. But what is the nature of this supposed good? Philosophers have offered two different sorts of answers to this question, identifying happiness either with a subjective state of mind (a feeling, emotion, or set of judgements) or alternatively with living a good life by some more objective standard. Each answer captures an important, but different, aspect of our concept of happiness. The trouble is that they are in tension with each other. I explore some of the dangers inherent in this tension and how we can move forward.
Bio
Dr Caroline West is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sydney. She has taught and published widely on a range of topics in ethics, metaphysics and political philosophy, including personal identity and free speech. She is currently writing a book on the Philosophy of Happiness.
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