happiness is the ultimate goal of man?

Answer 1

Yes. Here's how.

Fill your mind with knowledge.
That you're able to judge new information.
Fill your body with energy.
That your able to deal with stress.

Fill your heart with beauty.
That you're not held hostage to your needs.
Fill your relationships with forgiveness.
Trust good intentions will prevail.

Answer 2

Now I'm going to make a fool of myself here. And you know what? I don't mind. I suspect you didn't mean this as a serious question, but I'm taking it as serious. Maybe I'm too serious. 8^P But here goes. . .

I don't believe happiness is the ultimate goal of man. Some of the happiest people in the world live in asylums. Do you know anyone who's just too happy all the time and you -wonder- about them? I sure do.

I think happiness is a mirage, an illusory goal that we chase and never reach. Along the way we achieve our ultimate goal.

Even the concept of 'happiness' is hopelessly abstract. Can you really define it? Don't you think that if I asked you what it would take to make you happy, when you achieved that you'd still want more, or realize you now want something different? That's the human condition, isn't it?

So what is the ultimate goal of man? I think we each have to decide for ourselves. And not even the -ultimate- goal, because it's like the horizon, if we reach it we find we haven't reached it at all. The closest you can be to -happiness- is to have a goal and be making progress towards it.

Answer 3

I don't believe happiness is relative. Ultimate happiness is everlasting. What you may think is "happiness" is probably just fleeting moments of joy. But to answer your question, it depends. Knowledge can also be considered to be the ultimate goal of man. However, one can also argue that with that knowledge, happiness will follow suit. Whatever it is, the pursuit of happiness is an admirable and just goal in life.

Answer 4

Happiness cannot be the ultimate goal of man, since happiness is relative and depends for its existence upon what is valued in itself. For example, if I value pleasure above all else my happiness will depend upon my ability to satisfy my urges. If I think that knowledge is most valuable, I will drop the search for new entertainment to pursue what can be known. If I value money above all, I will sacrifice all my time and attention to gathering wealth. Each man will claim to be happy if he has what he values, but each will be seeking different goals. You must want something more than happiness itself to be happy. Finally, what is the most excellent thing that a human being can value? What is the good life?

Answer 5

Happiness is the absence of suffering and, often, an improving of one's condition, even if only temporarily.

As I said in answer to the last question, we all just want to live a life free of suffering. We pursue happiness in a million different ways, be it through religion, consumerism, leisure, addictions, goals, love, power, knowledge, etc.

We should all be free to pursue happiness in whatever fashion each individual deems best for himself, so long as we do no harm to others in that pursuit.

Answer 6

It should be...unfortunately, today's society has adopted the new one: money is the ultimate goal of man. Sometimes, I get too overwhelmed by the values that society has and how it has changed over the years.

Answer 7

It is said that man is in the pursuit of happiness throughout life. In everything humans do, it is to find happiness. With every search we have, we look for what makes us happy.

Answer 8

"Man hath no better thing to do under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry!" ...Ecclesiastes 8:15