The New York herald., 1878-11-11
STANDARD HALL.
THE PROBLEM OF HAPPINESS b
PROFESSOR FELIX ADLER

THE PROBLEM OF HAPPrNEss-ADDREss BY
PROFESSOR FELIx ADLER.
The schools of philosophy. said Dr. Adler, in
Standard Hall. have been divided between the op-
posing theories OF optimism and pessimism The
laughing and the weeping philosophers every.
where appear side by side in history. Even
the Bible, of the most optmistical works ever
written, contains emphatic assertions of q contrary
nature We call the Bible optimistical, because
on its very first page II maintains that the Deity
everything that He had made and esteemed IL very
good because the Psanist asserts that he has grown
old but has never actual injustice. Aud yet in
the books OF job and Ecccsastes peseimisin speaks
in its saddest strains the Preacher holds that there
is no progrcss that all things in circle; he
has tested whatever make objects OF their ambi-
tion and concludes by saying is better to be dead
than TO be living, and better to have been born
than either.
In modern times the contendng spirits Of opti-
mism and pcssimism more stand face 10 face
The will s that which binds 10 life To deny the
will is true policy. We ask the questions. How
we to take sides : Is happiness the purpose Of
lifeg
REQUISITES TO HAPPINESS.
In order to arrive at n satisfactory conclusion we
proceed TO anayze the elements Of happiness. Of
these l mention. conspicuously four-the pos
session OF the means of subsistence, the en-.
ioyment of health, intellectual occupation and
the exercise OF virtue The OF cub
sistence not within every ones reach, and
yet men are unwilling 10 near the question or paupcr
ism discussed in pulpits and platforms and those
who attempt il met with ugly frowns. Pauper-
ism is like yellow fever. must quarantine against
II. Our means of curing IL clumsy and incffc,-
tual We must wait till the frost cones that frost
namely, which kills the seeds of paupersm by kill
ing the psupcrs. So far happiness depends on tho
Of subsistence the great majority OF men hnd
IL within their reach.
The second element OF happiness Is health, aud
here IL seems to MS that no other animate being Is
tortured by disease So far ~ happiness de-
pcnds upon the enjoyment Of health cannot guar
antee it, third constituent Is knowledge As there
few men rich in outward treasures. there are
few rich i'm the treasures of the mind. There are a
few intellectual inlionnaires; then. quite number
who intellectually in easy circumstances. 80 10
speak; and then the great herd OF intellectual pau
pcrs, the last being found sometimes In very high
places. The enlargement consequent upon the pur-
suit of knowledge IL not within reach of the great
bulk of the working classes; even the merchants
who ought to find time to improve their minds, rarely
do go.
LOVE THE ONLY SOURCE or HAPPINESS
From these pictures Of life. on careful process of
induction IL seems TO MS that happiness is not tho
purpose of our being. They say. "be contented and
you will be happy" but there are circumstances In
which content ~ possible only 10 hypocrito or to an
idiot. Camness IL not content, resignation IL not
happiness. but the remuneration of happiness
Finally. the Stocs claim that virtue makes happy"
their antagonists, the Epcureans. said ..plcasire
il virtue" Their argument IN crushed
by one ponderous fact the fact of the emotional
needs of man. We have desire for love, and unless
isfy tit cannot give back dead friends. The
purpose of life Is holiness not happiness. The salts
faction we experience in the performance of
duty is the highest whereof we know. II
does not give pleasure. but u cxaits
us and makes our lives sublime. Happiness " the
fulalmcnt Of dcsrc-that we cannot hope for. Virtue
weaiis from dcsir virtue. therefore, II the
deinption of life. The true. practical philosophy IL
ORDER 20 be expected at all times. and upon every
pleasure unexpected and unhoped for gift