PHENOMA practical book for schools 2019 PHENOMA practical book for schools 2019 | Page 67

A Philosophical Dossier on Happiness
largely by Jefferson–in Philadelphia on July 4, a date now celebrated as the birth of
American independence.
“​ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That
whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the
People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on
such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to
effect their Safety and Happiness ​ .” (​ Declaration of Independence, Preamble, 1776 ​ )
SCHOPENHAUER: Happiness… does not exist 15
Short biography
Arthur Schopenhauer 16 (1788–1860) was a Philosopher and a Journalist. Born in
Danzig, Poland, his most famous book was ​ The World as Will and Representation​ ,
which argued that human action is driven by the dissatisfied will and is ultimately
directionless. In fact, he is also known as the philosopher of pessimism, as he articulated a
worldview that challenges the value of existence. His elegant and muscular prose earn him a
reputation as one the greatest German stylists. ​ He is also known as the first German
philosopher to incorporate Eastern thought into his writings.
He said: “​ It is the possession of a great heart or a great head, and not the mere fame of it,
which is worth having, and conducive to happiness ​ ”(​ Parerga und Paralipomena,
1851 ​ )
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“For, after all, the foundation of our whole nature, and, therefore, of our happiness, is our physique, and the
most essential factor in happiness is health, and, next in importance after health, the ability to maintain ourselves
in independence and freedom from care. There can be no competition or compensation between these essential
factors on the one side, and honor, pomp, rank and reputation on the other, however much value we may set
upon the latter. No one would hesitate to sacrifice the latter for the former, if it were necessary. We should add
very much to our happiness by a timely recognition of the simple truth that every man’s chief and real existence is
in his own skin, and not in other people’s opinions; and, consequently, that the actual conditions of our personal
life,—health, temperament, capacity, income, wife, children, friends, home, are a hundred times more important
for our happiness than what other people are pleased to think of us: otherwise we shall be miserable.” ( ​ Parerga
und Paralipomena, 1851​ )
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For more details https://www.biography.com/people/arthur-schopenhauer-21219427
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