The Virtuous Dimension Of Happiness

Happiness is an eternal topic for human beings.Research on happiness has focused on the nature of happiness and the relationship between virtue and happiness.On the question of"what is happiness",whatever the views of past ethicists,people have not denied the role of virtue in happiness,and thus in accordance with the spiritual and practical nature of human beings,true happiness is spiritual happiness,social happiness and creative happiness.On the question of "whether virtue and happiness are consistent",from the point of view of historical materialism,virtue and happiness have been expressed in history in the following ways:misfortune and happiness fluctuate around virtue subject to the constraints of real factors,sometimes rewarding virtue with blessing,sometimes rewarding virtue with misfortune,but over a longer period of time and from the perspective of humanity as a whole,the relationship between virtue and happiness is consistent.Therefore,virtue and bliss can be consistent,and virtue is an important dimension of happiness.When we look at happiness from the perspective of virtue,virtue is the source of spiritual happiness because of its connotation of spiritual self-consciousness and super-utilitarian characteristics;virtue is the guarantee of social happiness because of its connotation of the value of benefiting others and dedication;virtue is the motivation for people to create happiness because of its connotation of the spirit of creation and struggle;virtue is the prerequisite for people to achieve a happy life because of its connotation of ethical requirements.Therefore,although virtue is not happiness itself,it is the cornerstone of happiness and an important factor and force in promoting the realisation of human happiness.From the perspective of the individual,virtue and goodness are the ladder to happiness.In the pursuit of happiness,individuals should firstly understand virtue,take service to the people as the benchmark of happiness,take core values as the guideline of happiness,and determine the direction of happiness.Secondly,they should cultivate virtue,create happiness in struggle and achieve happiness in dedication,which is the road to the pursuit of happiness.Lastly,we must guard our virtue,holding fast to our virtue in the face of material temptations and in times of social injustice,in order to defend the bottom line of happiness.However,in the pursuit of happiness,in addition to man being responsible for his own actions,society is also responsible for the actions of man.Society has a great deal to offer and an important responsibility in perfecting the virtue of its members.The key to a society’s members becoming generally virtuous "virtuous people" lies in the social environment.Therefore,in the face of the current anomalies in society,such as the contradiction between virtue and happiness,society has the responsibility and obligation to eliminate all kinds of inequalities and to create a good environment for people to be and do good.