Single Idea 5655

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

Full Idea

For Bradley, the happiness of the individual is not to be understood in terms of his desires and needs, but rather in terms of his values - which is to say, in terms of those of his desires which he incorporates into his self.

Gist of Idea

Happiness is not satisfaction of desires, but fulfilment of values

Source

report of F.H. Bradley (Ethical Studies [1876]) by Roger Scruton - Short History of Modern Philosophy Ch.16

Book Reference

Scruton,Roger: 'A Short History of Modern Philosophy' [ARK 1985], p.235


A Reaction

Good. Bentham will reduce the values to a further set of desires, so that a value is a complex (second-level?) desire. I prefer to think of values as judgements, but I like Scruton's phrase of 'incorporating into his self'. Kant take note (Idea 1452).

Related Idea

Idea 1452 Happiness is the condition of a rational being for whom everything goes as they wish [Kant]