preview

How Does Stuart Mill Define Happiness

Decent Essays
Open Document

In Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness is something we strive for in our everyday lives, but how many of us actually achieve it? In Stuart Mill’s autobiography he claims that we shouldn’t make it our means end, due to it causing negative effects. Research has shown that by forcing yourself into being happy could cause the complete opposite, so you should let it find you as Mill mentioned. To begin with, putting time into someone else rather than yourself is a great way to find happiness. As mill has gone through his life he has realized that this is ideal. In his autobiography he states that,”Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object rather than their own happiness; on the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit, followed not as a means, but as itself an ideal end.” This quote shows that focusing on others, makes you happy whether you know it or not. You’re so determined in making them feel happy, that you forget about your own emotions …show more content…

However, these products are all a scam. As McMahon mentioned,”The self -help industry will pour forth books promising to make us happier than we are today. The very demand for such books is a strong indication that they aren’t working.” These books are meant to help us with our happiness, but yet aren’t doing anything. If they keep on getting produced then we know that people aren’t happy and are desperate for it. Also in the passage McMahon states,”Sociologists like to point out that the percentage of those describing themselves as ‘happy’ or ‘unhappy’ has remained virtually unchanged...since such surveys were first conducted in the 1950’s.” This proves that even with all the new luxuries we have today, we still feel the same. Nothing has made us feel anymore different. This proves that we are doing something wrong and need to do some changes to increase the national gross level of

Get Access