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Happiness And Happiness : Happiness Is Essential To Human Happiness

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Happiness is essential to human existence because it is human nature to desire to know the answer to insoluble questions like “where is my place and what is my purpose in the universe?”. In his work, Pensées, Pascal states, “. . . we burn with desire to find solid ground and an ultimate sure foundation whereon to build a tower reaching to the Infinite. But our whole groundwork cracks, and the earth opens to abysses. Let us, therefore, not look for certainty and stability. Our reason is always deceived by fickle shadows” (Pascal, 1). In this quote, he is clearly stating that the futile objective to find purpose is like a thirst that can never be quenched. As a realist, he recognizes that we are unable to give up our desire to understand our place and purpose in the universe, so we must distract ourselves with our passions and chase after material goods. We distract ourselves with the chase to subside fear of the unknown. Because the universe does not define us or offer a set of guidelines to do so, we often define ourselves by the aspects of life that displace us furthest from having to engage with knowing that our purpose can never be absolutely identified. In this essay, I will support Pascal’s account of human nature by arguing that we are motivated to find meaning and purpose and do so in the chase. We create artificial identities in the material things and passions we chase after, making our identities similar to a project and therefore illusory.
Pascal begins his

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