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22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / a. Nature of happiness
Happiness is advancement towards perfection [Leibniz]
     Full Idea: Happiness, or lasting contentment, consists of continual advancement towards a greater perfection.
     From: Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Antoine Arnauld [1686], 1690.03.23)
     A reaction: To the modern mind this smacks of the sort of hubris to which only the religious mind can aspire, but it's still rather nice. The idea of grubby little mammals approaching perfection sounds wrong, but which other animal has even thought of perfection?