Four Meditations on Happiness

In this original and thought-provoking book philosopher Michael Hampe sets out to help us understand happiness.

The right and proper path to a happy life is a topic that has been debated for millennia. There are many theories, from those of ancient philosophy to those of modern neuroscience, but can any one of them ultimately tell us how the objective of a perfectly fulfilled life might be achieved? By telling the story of two friends - the unhappy philosopher Stanley Low and the happy gardener Gabriel Kolk - alongside a presentation of four essays that examine prominent and very plausible theories of happiness, Michael Hampe illustrates that there is no easy answer to our search for unadulterated bliss.

Four Meditations on Happiness is an erudite and illuminating investigation into one of mankind's most elusive quests, one that allows us to reconsider what it means to be happy.



Michael Hampe teaches philosophy at ETH Zurich.



This is a work in the tradition - albeit with more varied arguments - of the Stoics, Marcus Aurelius and others. High praise. Moreover, it's very easy to read.