The
Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan
Haidt is a book which aims for the reader to focus on ten “Great Ideas.” Haidt believes that the increasing
quantity of information available through technology undermines the quality of
information we learn for we often only skim the surface of a complex idea. In the introduction of his novel, Haidt
poses the question of where does happiness come from? He says that the two main hypothesis are that happiness
comes from “getting what you want” or happiness comes from “within and cannot
be obtained by making the world confirm to your desires.” Haidt determines that happiness must
come from both within and without.
A study from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School shows that
once an individual reaches a salary of 75,000 a year, they will not report any
greater degree of happiness. The
more you make will improve how you feel your life is working out as a whole,
but people that make more than 75,000 do not report happier everyday
feelings. It is thought that
making 75,000 a year is enough to live comfortably and not have to frequently
worry about money. Abraham Maslow
proposed a theory called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs which combines needs from
within and without that humans strive to obtain. The hierarchy is represented as a pyramid with our most
basic needs at the bottom such as food and water, categorized as physiological
needs, which Maslow thinks are necessary for the human body to function
properly. From there the pyramid
builds up with safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Although widely accepted as universal
human needs, Maslow has been criticized for his lack of evidence for how he
ranked the needs and whether there is a definite hierarchy. Economic security as well as acceptance
of yourself and from your peers are all necessary for our optimal happiness.
Princeton Study: