Can philosophy teach us something about happiness? In the past, philosophy was considered a crucial ethical approach in life, which gives a certain consolatio. Through (1) the example of Edmund Husserl, who dedicated his life to philosophy as an elevated ethical value for humanity, we will explore the conceptual nuances of happiness within some of his analyses. The cartography of the latter will show various possible dimensions from (2) the categorical imperative of fulfilling the best of all possible goods and the problem of ethical instinct to (3) the decision of removing the obstacles on our way to the good by doing maybe the worst, until (4) the phenomenological variations of happiness, sadness, and satisfaction and (5) the ethical problematic of the happiness of the others. What does it mean to be happy if others are not?
1. The Happiness of Philosophers
Husserl’s Happiness: A Short Biography
What is the Happiness of Philosophy?
Texts:
Dan Weijers’ article: https://nzapblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/10/the-happiness-of-philosophers/
2. The Best is the Enemy of the Good:
Franz Brentano’s Principle of Absorption
Moritz Geiger’s Objections to Husserlian Phenomenology
Texts:
- Quotes translated from Husserl, Edmund. 1988. “Vorlesungen über Ethik und Wertlehre 1908-1914”. In Husserliana XXVIII, edited by Ullrich Melle. Dordrecht/Boston/London: Kluwer
- Quotes translated from Husserl, Edmund. 2012. “Einleitung in die Philosophie. Vorlesungen 1916-1920”. In Husserliana: Materialen IX, edited by Ullrich Melle. Dordrecht/Heidelberg/New York/London: Springer
3. The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions
Husserlian Will of Power
Texts:
- Quotes translated from Husserl, Edmund. 2020. “Studien zur Struktur des Bewusstseins. Teilband III: Wille und Handlung. Texte aus dem Nachlass (1902–1934)”. In Husserliana XLIII/2, edited by Ullrich Melle and Thomas Vongehr. Leuven: Springer
- Sara Pasetto’s article: The Husserlian Will to Power: ‘I Can Do Whatever I Want’
4. A Satisfied Mind
Phenomenology of Happiness, Sadness, and Satisfaction
Texts:
- Quotes translated from Husserl, Edmund. 2013. “Grenzprobleme der Phänomenologie. Analysen des Unbewusstseins und der Instinkte. Metaphysik. Späte Ethik. Texte aus dem Nachlass (1908–1937)”. In Husserliana XLII, edited by Rochus Sowa and Thomas Vongehr. Dordrecht/Heidelberg/New York/London: Springer
- A Satisfied Mind (Jeff Buckley’s version): https://genius.com/Jeff-buckley-satisfied-mind-lyrics
5. I can only be very happy if humanity as a whole can be
The Ethical Happiness
Texts:
- Quotes translated from Husserl, Edmund. 2013. “Grenzprobleme der Phänomenologie. Analysen des Unbewusstseins und der Instinkte. Metaphysik. Späte Ethik. Texte aus dem Nachlass (1908–1937)”. In Husserliana XLII, edited by Rochus Sowa and Thomas Vongehr. Dordrecht/Heidelberg/New York/London: Springer