"Exploration of Happiness: The Link Between Comparisons and Misery"
In a thought-provoking lecture delivered at Pforzheim University, Professor Dr. Hanno Beck delved into the complexities of happiness research, exploring the concepts of hedonia and eudaimonia.
Hedonia, as discussed by Professor Beck, represents the experience of pleasure or positive emotions, and immediate gratification. It encompasses feelings of happiness derived from enjoyable activities, comfort, and satisfaction of desires. Conversely, eudaimonia goes beyond momentary pleasure, focusing on living a meaningful, purposeful, and virtuous life.
The key difference between these two concepts lies in their focus. Hedonia is about feeling good in the short term, while eudaimonia is about being good and living well in a more sustained, meaningful way. Professor Beck emphasized that happiness research distinguishes these to understand that well-being includes both pleasurable experiences and meaningful engagement in life.
The lecture, titled "Happiness - what really matters in life", concluded the Studium Generale in the winter semester 2023/24. Around 400 people attended the lecture on-site, and another 1000 watched it online. The session started 10 minutes late due to a large number of visitors.
Professor Beck offered practical tips for personal happiness. He suggested thinking about things one is grateful for every evening while brushing teeth, seeing friends more often, and making many small purchases instead of big ones to mitigate the habituation effect. He also advised against commercialism during Christmas, suggesting family activities, nurturing traditions and rituals, and giving to charity or planning shared experiences instead.
Furthermore, Professor Beck highlighted the role of comparison in unhappiness and the importance of putting down smartphones more often. He also presented findings that suggest distributing many likes and frequently updating social media profiles is more of a sign of unhappiness.
The lecture also touched upon the history of happiness research, mentioning Jeremy Bentham as a key figure. Bentham developed the principle of utility and proposed the idea of a "hedonometer" for measuring happiness. Modern science differentiates between neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, with dopamine responsible for brief moments of happiness and serotonin having a long-term effect.
In conclusion, Professor Beck's lecture provided valuable insights into the complexities of happiness, encouraging attendees to critically question the results of happiness research and offering practical tips for personal happiness.
Attending to Professor Beck's lecture, the significance of lifestyle choices in incorporating eudaimonia was discussed. He encouraged adopting activities that foster personal growth, such as practicing gratitude, socializing more frequently, and engaging in numerous small pleasures rather than a few big ones, while avoiding commercialism during festive occasions.
Furthermore, Professor Beck emphasized the importance of self-development and education, highlighting how the pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement can contribute to a meaningful and fulfilling life, thus promoting both hedonia and eudaimonia.
