A science of happiness. Philosophical considerations

Empirical happiness research measures subjective well-being of human persons, the extent to which people judge themselves to be happy. We acknowledge this to be an important component of happiness. However, we argue on the basis of classical philosophical literature that it is far from being its only, or even its most substantial dimension. We propose an alternative definition that is inspired by Aristotle: happiness as the full development of individual potentialities. A successful life depends not just on the reasonableness of the choices that individuals make for themselves, but also on good luck, moral luck eventually, and on the judgment by independent others on our actions, and on our general way of life. It cannot be the task of government to make its citizens happy, but government is able to create more or less favorable circumstances under which human persons try to achieve a good life. Adapted from the source document.