The Pursuit of Happiness

In my last post, I touched upon the broad role morality should have on life: a benefit to those involved. Some might chastise this as “selfish” (although, I’m not sold on the moral weight of such an “accusation”), but I think the same can be said for human behavior in general and moralities commonly viewed as “altruistic.” I don’t believe true altruism exists; that is, the ability or position of one person to act solely for another or others in sacrifice of his or her own desires. Moreover, many “altruistic” moralities are sold on the principle that they offer the biggest benefits for those subscribed: everlasting life. How the desire to have everlasting life is often seen as altruistic is beyond me. I think we would be better off just removing “selfish” from our list of necessarily negative adjectives (certainly irrational and unsuccessful selfishness can be a negative, such as theft). What does the fact that people are universally driven for their own gain derive from? Evolution answers this one way (self-preservation) and religion another (the devil?). But to put it simply: pain hurts, pleasure feels good, and happiness makes us happy. “The pursuit of happiness” then is the standard that frees us to pursue this universal end. It is important to distinguish what this does, and doesn’t say. It does say that people are free to pursue their happiness. It doesn’t say that we have a right to happiness. Not only would such a standard be virtually impossible (what evidence do we have that happiness is the same or quantifiable from one person to the next), but it would be self-defeating: if happiness is a house with green grass and a white picket fence, then I have a right to it. But houses don’t fall from the sky. Someone must build it. If they do so because they must, because I have a right to it, then we have adopted slavery. Instead, the pursuit of happiness also guides our actions of what not to do: do not kill, do not cheat, do not lie, etc. All of these actions can be defended on selfish grounds. I hope to cover how.