Socrates has a unique place in the history of happiness, as he
is the first known figure in the West to argue that happiness is actually
obtainable through human effort. He was born in Athens, Greece in 460 BC; like
most ancient peoples, the Greeks had a rather pessimistic view of human
existence. Happiness was deemed a rare occurrence and reserved only for those
whom the gods favored. The idea that one could obtain happiness for oneself was
considered hubris, a kind of overreaching pride, and was to be met
with harsh punishment Against this bleak backdrop the optimistic Socrates
enters the picture. The key to happiness, he argues, is to turn attention away
from the body and towards the soul. By harmonizing our desires we can learn to pacify
the mind and achieve a divine-like state of tranquility. A moral life is to be
preferred to an immoral one, primarily because it leads to a happier life. We
see right here at the beginning of western philosophy that happiness is at the
forefront, linked to other concepts such as virtue, justice, and the ultimate
meaning of human existence.
Socrates believed that only people
with self-knowledge could find true happiness. According to
Socrates: Happiness flows not from physical or external conditions, such
as bodily pleasures or wealth and power, but from living a life that’s right
for your soul, your deepest good. If you don’t know what’s good
for your soul, then you’ll be misled into pursuing happiness based on what’s
conventional or easy. This is a dead-end. If you do know what’s
good for your soul, then you’ll do it naturally, since it’s the nature of good
to be desired. This is the path to happiness. In other words, Socrates
believed that to be happy you need to know what’s good for you.http://www.happinessstrategies.com/2007/09/08/on-happiness-socrates/
Interesting, how Nietzsche rejected Socrates for denying the dark and tragic view of life so favored by his predecessors. I for one am glad he affirmed the possibility of happiness. He himself illustrates the complementary point, that tragedy is also a part of life. Just not all.
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