Essay on Hedonism Is the Driving Force in Happiness

Happiness is often one of the most important components of the good life for people, whether led by hedonistic desires or not. The definition of hedonism, as said by Kupperman, is â€Å"pleasures minus pain.† Although Dan Gilbert, in his TED Talk, and Kupperman’s Six Myths About the Good Life, agree that hedonism is a driving force in seeking happiness, they have different perspectives of how the two are related. Gilbert takes the approach that psychological factors are behind hedonism, while Kupperman cites theological sources in describing the link of hedonism and happiness in humans. The main similarity between Gilbert and Kupperman’s arguments is people have the ability to change desired outcomes. Although both sources agree about this,†¦show more content†¦Kupperman, on the other hand, believes that giving up any desires leads to the true happiness, not one reliant on â€Å"emotional wallpaper† (synthesizing happiness) that only leads to bein g comfortable, but not truly happy. Overall, Gilbert and Kupperman are in agreement that hedonism does in fact drive the happiness. However, they disagree on the modes of hedonism, mainly due to descriptions of psychological and theological evidence. Kupperman essentially suggests that the hedonic treadmill will continue if people do not forgo pleasuresand an attempt to achieve comfort, as per the Buddhist ideology. Not always, Kupperman states, do pleasures and comfort come without some mental and physical discomfort, but that is what makes the happiness long lasting. Gilbert’s solution to attaining happiness as part of the good life is to manufacture happiness in situations in which we did not have an expected outcome. Gilbert also maintains that the â€Å"experience simulator† should be utilized to possibly motivate us in hedonistic quests. 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