how to define happiness

Happiness is a contested concept; different traditions emphasize different elements. Here are the main philosophical and psychological definitions, plus a concise working definition. - Hedonic: happiness = pleasure and absence of pain (Epicurus; modern hedonism). - Eudaimonic: happiness = flourishing or living well through virtue and realizing human capacities (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics). - Utilitarian: happiness = the aggregate pleasure or welfare that should guide moral action (Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill). - Stoic: happiness = inner tranquility achieved by living according to reason and virtue, independent of externals (Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius). - Buddhist: happiness = freedom from craving and suffering; a peace that arises from insight and ethical practice (Dhammapada; Buddhist teachings). - Psychological (contemporary): happiness often measured as subjective well‑being — life satisfaction plus frequent positive affect and infrequent negative affect — and as psychological well‑being involving meaning, autonomy, mastery, and relationships (Diener; Ryff; Seligman). Working definition (integrative, practical): Happiness = a relatively stable state of well‑being characterized by frequent positive experience, meaningful engagement, and the cultivation of capacities and relationships that enable flourishing and resilience in the face of hardship. Notes: - Distinguish fleeting pleasure from durable flourishing; both matter but play different roles. - How you define happiness affects what you pursue and value (pleasure, virtue, meaning, or social welfare). Selected sources for further reading: - Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics. - Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus. - John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism. - Diener, E. (1984). “Subjective Well‑Being.” - Ryff, C. (1989). “Happiness is...”: Psychological Well‑Being. - Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish.