Ruut Veenhoven, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands,
Accepted for publication in Journal of Happiness Studies, 2010, 11: 605-629
DOI 10.1007/s10902-010-9204-z
ABSTRACT
Utilitarian philosophy holds that public policy should aim at greater happiness for a
greater number of people. This moral tenet meets many objections, on pragmatic
grounds it is denounced as unfeasible and on ideological grounds as undesirable. As
a result the principle is marginal in policy making. In this paper I consider these
classic philosophical qualms in the light of recent empirical research on life-
satisfaction.
The data show first of all that the principle is feasible; happiness of a
great number is possible in contemporary conditions and it is also possible to create
more of it. The data also show that the promotion of happiness fits well with other
ideals; happiness requires conditions that we value, such as freedom, and happiness
fosters matters that we value, such as good health and civil behaviour. Though
happiness can conflict with these values in theory, it appears to match them in
practice.
Keywords: Happiness, life satisfaction, subjective wellbeing, utilitarianism, research
synthesis, hedonism, cross-cultural