Single Idea 12927

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 2. Happiness / a. Nature of happiness]

Full Idea

Happiness, or lasting contentment, consists of continual advancement towards a greater perfection.

Gist of Idea

Happiness is advancement towards perfection

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Antoine Arnauld [1686], 1690.03.23)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'The Leibniz-Arnauld Correspondence', ed/tr. Mason,HT/Parkinson,GHR [Manchester UP 1967], p.171


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?