Single Idea 21743

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / d. Routes to happiness]

Full Idea

During and immediately after the war [14-18], those who hated the Germans were happier than those who still regarded them as human beings, because they could feel that what was being done served a good purpose.

Gist of Idea

In wartime, happiness is hating the enemy, because it gives the war a purpose

Source

Bertrand Russell (An Outline of Philosophy [1927], Ch 22)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'An Outline of Philosophy' [Routledge 1979], p.186


A Reaction

A striking remark. There are lots of situations where hatred seems to increase happiness. Russell is roughly defending consequentialism.