Answer to Question #318546 in Philosophy for Jnls

Question

Do you agree that happiness is the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain, and that all actions are directed toward pleasure?

Answer 1

No, I wouldn’t say the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Happiness is taking life as it comes. One favors pleasure and does not mind pain—which is not to say one is indifferent to it, just that one doesn’t say no to life because of it. One can accept it and accept that sometimes it is necessary to experience some pain now to avoid bigger pain in the future.