What Role Does Government Play In Human Happiness

19 Pages 4652 Words

For many centuries, people have considered the happiness of man. They have discussed the many causes and affects of this happiness. It seems to be self-evident that man’s happiness is dependent upon his social interactions that happen throughout his entire life. If man lives in what can be considered to be the “wrong” social situation, he has no means of attaining his happiness. Man’s happiness depends on him living in his proper place in the world. Each man has his own proper place in society, and once he is in this position he will be ultimately happy. Certain leaders would suggest anarchy as the ideal society, while others would suggest totalitarianism. In anarchy, people believe that man will be happy because he has no constraints on his freedom. He is able to do what he wants when he wants. In doing what he wants all the time, he will be truly happy. On the other hand, totalitarianism expects that men will be happy because the leader has complete control, so they need not make a decision on their own. Without the difficulties of making these decisions, man can truly be happy. A man’s happiness, in actuality, comes from a medium between these two extremes. The happiness that man can achieve must come from being within a political association. It does not seem possible that man can completely lose his happiness when he is living in a society, since all men naturally strive for social interactions. He makes agreements when being in this political society that go along with his wishes, he will be protected, always have food, and always have companionship. Man will work for the society, so that in return, the society will work for man. This relationship comes from man’s agreement with the leaders of an aristocracy, since this idea of government seems to be the best one that lends to the idea of man being happiest within a society. Aristocracy seems to be a mean between the two extremes of anarchy and total...