The Negative Ontology of Happiness: a Schopenhauerian Argument

Abstract

In this essay I will examine Schopenhauer’s contention that there is, in fact, no hap- piness, and that instead it is merely a lack of suffering that we label as such. To do this, I will first explore the claim itself, as well as some additional hypotheses and arguments that Schopenhauer presents for this position. I will then make a number of objections and provide refutations for each of them, with the resulting conclusion being favourable for Schopenhauer’s position; however, I will also comment on some areas of philosophy that could possibly yield problems for the position, as well as discussing briefly what sorts of further conclusions might be drawn from the nonexistence of happiness, and which areas are clearly not affected by it without further argumentation.