1. The Degree of Happiness

‘The Degree of Happiness’ is the article that was written by Betrand Russell.  Betrand Arthur William Russell was born in Trelleck, Wales on 18 May 1872. He was educated from Trinity College, University of Cambridge. He was a British philosopher, mathematician, and Nobel laureate, whose emphasis on logical analysis influenced he course of 20th-century thinking.  His article, ‘The Degree of Happiness’ can be read in his book ‘The Conquest of Happiness’.

                This article was not easy to understand. I need to read it more than twice to made me understand what Russell try to tell in his article. Some of the sentences were using high lexis word that need me to more careful and understood those high lexis words.

                What is happiness? Based on Wikipedia, happiness can be defined as a mental state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. What can I explain here about happiness is one feeling that bring the enjoyment in our life.

                According on Russell’s article, there are two sort of happiness which is open to any human being and to those who can read and write. Russell had stated that when he was a boy, he knew a man bursting with happiness whose business was digging wells. In fact, he could neither read nor write. When in the year 1885 he got a vote for parliament. Since that day, he learnt for the first time that such an institution existed.  His happiness did not depend upon intellectual sources that he does not have. It was not based upon belief in natural law or any of the fad. It was based on physical vigor, a sufficiency of work and the overcoming of not insuperable obstacles.

                In addition, Russell stated that other sort of happiness can be showed between scientist and artist. He said that, scientist is the happiest men in the present day. Many of them are emotionally simple and obtain from their work satisfaction so profound so they can derive pleasure from eating and even marrying while artist consider it necessary to be unhappy in their life.

                In conclusion, this article can help people in reach their happiness. There were various sort of happiness that can use in daily life. Everyone have different level of happiness in their life which happiness cannot simply determine through position, appearance and wealth.