ON HAPPINESS

by Frank Gordon, USA

A High School student once told a teacher who challenged him that what he was doing was "the pursuit of happiness," and that this was his Constitutional right. The teacher replied that this was not in the Constitution.

Actually, the "pursuit of happiness" was originally in the Declaration of Independence, and this concept was not transferred to the Federal Constitution.

However, although neither the teacher nor student apparently knew this, it was placed in the Preamble of the State of Maine Constitution. And since this argument took place in a Maine school, it would have applied.

There is a legal definition of the pursuit of happiness, given in Black's Law Dictionary:

The Pursuit of Happiness, in constitutional law includes ... (Note: among other rights)... the right to follow one's individual preference in the choice of an occupation and the application of his energies...

Hubbard's definition of happiness in DMSMH parallels this view: Happiness is the overcoming of not unknown obstacles toward a known goal and, transiently, the contemplation of or indulgnce in pleasure.

The first part of this could even be used as a definition for what one is doing in any regular occupation; i.e., overcoming not unknown obstacles toward a known goal; as in shoe-making, farming, surgery, etc.

Thus, happiness is primarily goal-directed on-going causative action; and only secondarily a form of pleasure. This implies that in addition to recalling pleasure moments in which I felt all cuddlely-wuddlely, I might also recall overcoming the difficulties of mountain climbing or attempting to invent an instant coffee dispenser.

In the Technical Dictionary, there is an addition to this, and in Modern Management Technology Defined 1976, Ron includes a number of definitions:

HAPPINESS. 1. is not itself an emotion. It is a word which states a condition, and the anatomy of that condition is interest (note:attention with intention). Happiness, you could say, is the overcoming of not unknowable obstacles toward a known goal. 2. comes from seff-determinism, production and pride. Happiness is power and power is being able to do what one is doing when one is doing it. (HCO PL 3 Apr 72)

To explore this concept, and using these definitions as a guide, one might ask: "What is happiness for me, or for you?"

In addition one could explore related concepts, such as: enthusiasm, exuberance, exhileration, jubilation, joy, ecstasy, bliss, blessedness, serenity and even perhaps simple contentment.

The dramatization of these various conditions might also prove informative; even if one must slide from enthusiasm to raging lust or righteous indignation; or from ecstasy to prurience in order to get these dramatizations "to bite." (as per acceptance level theory).