Wikipedia: Happiness

Happiness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Happiness, pleasure or joy is the emotional state of being happy. The definition of happiness is one of the greatest philosophical quandaries. Proposed definitions include freedom from want and distress, consciousness of the good order of things, assurance of one's place in the universe or society, and so forth. Associated emotions include joy, exultation, delight, bliss, and love, and antonyms include suffering, sadness, grief, and anger.

Philosophies of happiness

Utilitarianism commonly seeks the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
Epicureanism is the belief that the greatest good is to seek happiness for oneself.
Hedonism is any ethical theory that gives pleasure a central role.
Eudaimonianism is any ethical theory that gives happiness a central role.

Some claims that happiness is a synonym for evolution or growing. If someone evolves, he/she is happy, if not, he/she isn't. Although this theory is questionable, it makes the word "happiness" useable for non-biological living systems, for example an artificial intelligence, or a complex system (see Gaia or Galaxia).

Achieving happiness

A number of commonly recommended ways to produce happiness:

Material ways:

Social ways:

Emotional ways:

Spiritual ways:

Other ways:

drinking, alcohol
hobbies
decoration
science
books
cinema
expanding our knowledge, reading and learning new things

However, most of the above, as a side effect of being, in a way, joyful, can also be addictive and then not make one really happy on the whole.

	Wikipedia: Happiness