Questions on Happiness: Classic Topics, Modern Answers, Blind Spots
Author(s)
Veenhoven, Ruut
Abstract
Happiness is a longstanding theme in Western thought. This paper takes stock of several classical topics: 1. What is happiness? 2. Can happiness be measured? 3. Is unhappiness the rule? 4. How do people assess their happiness? 5. What conditions favor happiness? 6. Can happiness be promoted? 7. Should happiness be promoted? Is Dodge (1930) right in his contention that “the theory of the happy life has remained on about the same level that the ancient Greeks left it?” This inventory will differ from the usual review articles. The focus will not be on current technical research issues, but rather on the broader questions that prompted the enquiry. Furthermore, the aim is not only to enumerate advances in understanding, but also to mark the blind spots.
