An unhappy view of happiness

[Richard ridealgh]

The recent scandal which showed high school girls in Shanghai involved in a prostitution ring has shocked society. These teenagers are not natural criminals and cannot simply be dismissed as "shameless". After all, at some point in future, they might pursue happiness or achieve great things in their chosen endeavors. However, in this world where happiness is distorted, there is only one small step between down and up for both adults and children.

Our view of what constitutes happiness and achievement was distorted long before this scandal. Two years ago, a China Youth Daily online survey titled "What are you fighting for" showed that 84.3% of the 9,844 participants were fighting for something. The main goals, according to the survey, were to "own house and car"(53.5%), "have an ideal life"(44.0%), "become wealthy"(43.70%) and "have a good job"(23.9%). It's clear, and not just from this survey, that money and material possessions have become the most important symbols of success in today's society. Any job or profession which can allow a person to earn money as quickly as possible has become accepted as a right and proper way to pursue one's happiness.

According to Aristotle, happiness or a happy life is a way of living, or an activity, which is in accordance with virtue. "Men of the most vulgar type, seem (not without some ground) to identify the good, or happiness, with pleasure; which is the reason why they love the life of enjoyment." To Aristotle, this is the lowest level of happiness, while the highest level is the political or the contemplative life.

Aristotle's higher concept of happiness is far from the thoughts of most young Chinese in pursuit of their dreams. But we should think seriously about the lowest level of happiness, because those teenage girls who became embroiled in prostitution showed just how low it's possible to go. On that level, happiness is totally controlled by people's natural desires without any moral or ethical restrictions.

In a world controlled by money and lust, happiness comes only from the fulfillment of one's desire. But happiness is more than a satisfaction. It's a value. It's impossible for a man to live in a restriction-free world. The moral code can work because the majority of adults are able to live in a disciplined manner.

However, nowadays many adults indulge in material pleasures and the extravagances of sensuality. Moreover, this way of life and the material "success" it brings has been mistaken for progress under China's reforming and opening-up policy. It has also been mistaken for being symptomatic of a happier Chinese society.

Adult behavior is often copied by children. Therefore, when successful people such as officials, entrepreneurs, scholars and celebrities break the moral code, the younger generation is sure to follow.

Prolonged exposure to an education system that emphasizes cramming and rote learning has deprived the younger generation of the ability to think independently. As a result, they may react to the recent sex trade scandal in one of two ways: To blame and judge the girls in a condescending way, or to regard it as the typical behavior of teenagers, whether in China or in other countries.

Neither reaction is accurate or useful. What happened is not just a teenage phenomenon; it is a social problem in China.

For those girls caught up in prostitution, it is far better to teach them values than to prosecute them, because one realizes his happiness by staying true to his values. This education should be included in the discussion on social values. An individual's view of what constitutes a good life is not necessarily good for society as a whole. Therefore, such values should be decided, and supported, by the whole community. China is very much in need of a public debate on this issue.

A good public life comes from two different sources—politics or ecumenical ethics. The former focuses on the interests of a country, a nation and a revolutionary cause, ignoring the needs of individuals. Happiness based on such precepts is usually unstable and flawed.

The later is based on religious beliefs, traditional cultural beliefs and human values, including liberty, equality, dignity, honesty and credibility. These values are both the source of, and the means to, happiness. They are supported and protected by a civil society, not by the state's power. We should start to create a more noble view of what constitutes happiness by cultivating a more civil society and establishing decency in public life.

[Richard ridealgh]

Happiness? If you could define it or have other related articles on this subject, would be interested, thanks!