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The Happiness Of The Great People
By Artur Ciesielski | Essay
From time to time my thoughts turn to the suffering that goes on in the world, and specifically suffering of a greater people. It is our nature that will probably prevent us from being completely good all the time on a small personal scale from person to person, so I’m not thinking at this level.
Edward Gibbons, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire noted,
“If a man were called upon to fix the period in history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would without hesitation name that which elapsed from the accession of Nerva (A.D. 96) to the death of Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 180). The united reigns of the five emperors of the era are possibly the only period in history in which the happiness of a great people was the sole object of government.”
All five the emperors in this period, by the way, were Stoics.
“…the happiness of a great people was the sole object of government.” is the scale of our influence on each other that I have in mind, because it is at this scale that the worst is done and the best can happen.
Just imagine if the current leader of North Korea, upon accession to seat of power made a decision to turn course and make the happiness of the North Korean people the sole object of his rule. Just imagine.
Even closer to home, if the seats of government in the United States made it their goal to do this.
But of course, this means also not at the expense of other peoples which is common today.
There are countries that somewhat take this course. Many in Europe such as Germany, Finland, Norway amongst other come to mind.
Look at what is happening in South Sudan, what’s taking place in Israel and Gaza or the undue strong-arming of Taiwan by China.
It should be the sole purpose of all our governments, all leaders, all persons to seek tranquility and happiness of all.
I know it’s not possible to achieve this utopian idea. In fact, it would be counter productive to do anything short the systems in existents now in those countries named above and even the United States, where most people live pretty well and their happiness of mostly up to them, not the government who’s influence is small on daily lives and the system works pretty well. Especially with a few tweaks to the tax system and voting system it could be much better. Just look at the post World War II period until the mid 1970’s when business started to exert overt influence on decisions for its own benefit and the country started to go to where it is now.
Most of the ‘evil’, hurt, unhappiness we the people experience is inflicted on us by other people. We are our own worst enemy is a cliche, yet true.
Just take some time and imagine if those in power, because they have the influence, sought the happiness of people, just the basics would suffice and then let the ‘fair’ markets work and let true ‘democracy’ reign and aside from person to person squabbles each of us could seek fulfillment, happiness and tranquility without taking from others.