Happiness Pre-Modern Answers for Questions Today from Boethius to Fortunatus

Albrecht Classen

doi:10.12944/crjssh.4.1.01

Abstract

Human existence is really dependent on the quest for happiness. Most people rely on contingent aspects of happiness, whereas all philosophers and poets have already taught us that true happiness rests somewhere else. This paper examines recent approaches to this idea of happiness, both in philosophy and in sociology, and related fields, and then turns to the teachings by the late antique philosopher Boethius (in Latin). From there, the article turns to the anonymous German novel Fortunatus (printed in 1509) where some of Boethius’s teachings find direct applications, defining happiness with a reference to wisdom. Past notions of happiness promise to illuminate us today in our search for true happiness beyond contingency.

Highlights

Human existence is really dependent on the quest for happiness
Very important proves to be the relationship between human beings and the natural environment which can create a sense of happiness, even if only so fleetingly
All representatives of world religions have claimed, in one way or the other, to offer spiritual avenues toward happiness, whether here on earth or in the afterlife. As much as those religions tend to rely on different Holy Scriptures, in essence the purpose mostly proves to be the same, to help the individual to transcend his/her material limitations and to reach out for a new dimension characterized by immense, infinite, supreme happiness freed from all contingency

Summary

Introduction

Human existence is really dependent on the quest for happiness. Most people rely on contingent aspects of happiness, whereas all philosophers and poets have already taught us that true happiness rests somewhere else. Happiness, I will turn to two major sources relevant for the discourse on happiness, one from late antiquity, the other from the early modern time, the first a philosophical dialogue treatise, the second a German novel.

Results

Conclusion