Marx and Durkheim on Happiness

 

Social indicators as well as structural processes are some of the structural indicators that are used for in the process of finding out if individuals are happy. These are used to ensure that there is an understanding of the way that people in society end up attaining happiness. Structural indicators have been considered to be highly subjective and this is in such a way that the theories that have been developed concerning them have sought to prove that the concept of happiness is a human invention than an actual real feeling. In the article, the example of Marx and Durkheim is made use of in such a way that they show the manner through which happiness is used to establish the control of one group over another in society (Cieslik, 2015). In the theories developed by these two scholars, happiness has been developed because of the need to enforce consumerism in society, while at the same time helping in keeping negative social realities at bay. The argument made by Marx concerning the presence of religion is an important indicator of how superficial the concept of happiness really is.

Symbolic interactionism is a perspective that seeks to develop an understanding of the way that the relationships of individuals in society are developed and sustained. This is the case when it comes to the concept of happiness, which if viewed from a symbolic interactionist perspective, involves the enforcement of power relations. A diversity of the definitions of happiness in the contemporary world has come to be associated with a consumerist culture and has come to be accepted as one of the most important social values. Therefore, the goals of a considerable number of members of society are based on the belief that happiness is tied to the attainment of material wellbeing. Happiness is seen as the ultimate goal and individuals pursue it for their entire lives in the hope of finally attaining it. It is also a means through which the relationships between various individuals in society are established and maintained.

A majority of the interviewees cited their parents as being among the most influential individuals when it came to determining their understanding of happiness. This is because parents put a lot of pressure on them to adopt what they believed to be the most ideal form of happiness (Cieslik, 2015). However, the interviewees also stated that a diversity of other factors that informed their beliefs concerning happiness, including their own personal notions concerning what it means and how they can attain it. A consequence is that social factors have an influence on how individuals come to determine what it means to be happy.

One of the arguments made by Cieslik is that happiness is both felt and done. Doing happiness is a process that involves individuals seeking to ensure that they are able to undertake actions that will bring them the most happiness. It is often associated with wellbeing because it involves individuals seeking to ensure that they are able to have friends or employment that gives them the most satisfaction. The result is that the sense of wellbeing has come to be associated with happiness, and this can be considered a motivation behind individuals seeking to ensure that they do actions that will provide them with the greatest pleasure.