Question

The Anti-Eudaimonist claims that when we accept that life is Pain, Misery, and Frustration, and that Happiness as a Positive state of well-being is only an Illusion and does not exist, we will actually feel much better.

Comment on the Anti-Eudaimonic Paradox: "I am much Happier now that I have abandoned my pursuit of Happiness.” (Ashleigh Brilliant, “Potshots”)

Answer 1

One of the most important factors about happiness is that it’s not a destination but a journey and it’s not a static thing but it’s more dynamic. This would mean that when people think of happiness as a destiny that needs to be achieved or arrived at, they would lose the happiness throughout their journey. This would mean the time one overcomes the thought of happiness, one would start living by becoming conscious and aware of one’s present state and environment. When people say that the purpose of life is the pursuit of happiness, they wouldn’t be able to experience life as it is because they would be always in an illusion that they are chasing happiness while happiness would travel further from them. So, living in the present and experiencing life as it would help one overcome one’s shortfalls and enjoy even pain when one realises that the pain that one experiences today would lead one to experience joy and happiness later.

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