Preface

### **Man's openness to the world and to happiness.**

Man has been metaphorically defined as an animal open to a range of possibilities in his being in the world [1–3] and, according to Wittgenstein, the environment constitutes the specific framework in which living beings, including man, fit in on the basis of their predispositions. The world, on the other hand, according to the same author, constitutes the totality of what exists, the wider reality of the world that concerns the subsistence or non-existence of states of things [4]. In other words, man, unlike animals, deals in life with lack, negation, possibility, desire, or regret.

Man, therefore, does not live by certainties, but lives by deficiencies, by strategies to fill these deficiencies, by expectations, desires, regrets, novelties, and possibilities, measures of possible worlds full of anguish. Man, unlike other living beings, has **his own biography (***bìos***) with its own beginning and end. As the Greeks used to say, human life is a segment, a specification of** *zoè* **(biological life)** with its continuous, inexhaustible succession of natural cycles of births and deaths, and man, starting from biological life, experiences in his existence a continuous dialectic between need and desire. Man represents the effort, the tension and the internal drive (*conatus*) to exist [5]. In other words, he perseveres in his being, organising and rooting his existence on the basis of the dialectic between need and desire. Petrosino distinguishes between the concept of desire and the concept of need, and in this regard states that man not only experiences, like any other living being, multiple needs, but is also a subject that experiences desire, which cannot in any way be resolved as a need. The absence that sets the latter in motion does not coincide with the lack that inhabits desire, the latter not having the absence of an object as its object. Desire is not a particular need, nor even the totality of needs, because in fact at the level of desire the subject often lacks what he does not know or even does not know what he lacks [1–2]. In short, man whenever he satisfies a need never enjoys a sense of definitive fullness, since he also feels desire, and filling the voids triggered by need does not mean filling that structural and unbridgeable void that is desire, which is an ever-open opening, never governable and tameable. It is precisely for this reason that man reclaims both the care of his own needs and the care of his desire, which is surplus to the satisfaction of needs and is an expression of his unrepeatable flowering of life, of the never definitive meaning he attributes to his entire existence. Man is therefore called upon to cultivate what Novalis, in the *Henry of Ofterdingen,* calls the flower, that is, the overall meaning to be given to his own existence, that which makes us feel on the level of feeling, on the emotional level, the proximity or otherwise of attaining one's ideal image (Idealbild), as Scheler defines it [6]. In any case, net of the different theoretical perspectives of the discourse on happiness, man finds in his flowering, biographical and communitarian, the gesture par excellence, and only from this community of care for human frailties is a truly human discourse on the good life or, with a more idealised expression, a happy life possible.

We have brought together in this book contributions from various scientists from all over the world, welcoming different, multifaceted, dialectically open perspectives and sensitivities, including biological, biopsychosocial, anthropological, and philosophical thematic approaches. We present various perspectives on happiness in both the short and long terms, according to short-range and teleological ontologies.

Nowadays, the concept of happiness is more frequently grasped in its complexity, according to the biopsychosocial approach; therefore, it is more often observed as a dimension that is influenced by several factors that are intertwined with each other over a longer period of time [7–9]. We should point out here that although this perspective more frequently looks at the long term, there is also the possibility of focusing on happiness in the very short term (e.g., focusing only on the momentary positive emotional state after many shared laughs in a social environment). However, happiness is nowadays more frequently understood as an existential aspect that is measured over a long period of life and that is also often manifested in today's very broad and widespread concept of well-being.

In order to focus on the complexity of this concept, this book includes several sections. The first is a review of biological views on happiness, for example, by measuring it in a positive emotional state in the short term, or by observing how the concept of happiness is influenced by peculiar biological states, typical of particular and limited phases of the life cycle, such as pregnancy.

The second section presents research on happiness that emphasises its psychological aspects and long-term perspectives as well as considers the broader concept of well-being.

The third section explores how the social point of view influences happiness. This is undeniable if we also think of Bauman's studies, for example, who observes that globalisation for some people means everything we are forced to do in order to achieve happiness, and for others, it is the very cause of our unhappiness [10]. This statement shows us how the habitat of life is inevitably influenced by a wider social environment as well as by the interpretations of individuals (the social and psychological aspects influence each other). Beyond globalisation, it was also interesting to observe how specific, individual local cultures can influence a specific society and the conception of happiness and well-being in that specific context.

Finally, the fourth section of the book presents a broader, anthropological philosophical view of happiness with a focus on specific cultural aspects.

In taking leave of this work, we thank all the scientists who participated and we trust that the scholar who wishes to consult this book will intercept themes, perspectives, and avenues of research that, precisely because of their complexity and diversity of contexts and approaches, will stimulate their intellectual curiosity and critical spirit.

> **Floriana Irtelli** Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy

### **Fabio Gabrielli**

School of Managment, University Jean Monnet, Bari, Italy

## **References**

[1] Petrosino S. Lo stupore. Novara: Interlinea; 2012

[2] Petrosino S. Pane e spirito. Milano: Vita e Pensiero; 2015

[3] Heidegger M. Sein und Zeit. Tubingen: M. Niemeyer Verlag; 1927; tr. it. di Chiodi P. Essere e Tempo. Milano: Longanesi; 1976

[4] Wittgenstein L. Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul; 1922; tr. it. di Conte G. Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus e Quaderni 1914–1916. Torino: Einaudi; 1995

[5] Natoli S. Perseveranza. Bologna: Il Mulino; 2014

[6] Scheler M. Der Formalismus in der Ethik und die materiale Wertethik. Neuer Versuch der Grundlegung eines ethischen Personalismus 1927. In: Scheler M, editor. Gesammelte Werke Bd. II., Studienausgabe, 8. Aufl., Nach der 7. durchges. u. verb. Aufl. hrsg. v. M. Frings. Bonn: Bouvier; 2000; tr. it. di Guccinelli R. Il formalismo nell'etica e l'etica materiale dei valori. Milano: Bompiani; 2013

[7] Engel G. The need for a new medical model: A challenge for biomedicine. Science 1977;**196**:129-136

[8] Engel G. How much longer must medicine's science be bound by a seventeenth century world view? Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 1992;**57**:3-16

[9] Irtelli F. Illuminarsi di Ben-essere. Roma: Armando; 2016

[10] Bauman Z. Dentro la globalizzazione. Bari-Roma: Laterza; 2005

**VI**

thematic approaches. We present various perspectives on happiness in both the short and

Nowadays, the concept of happiness is more frequently grasped in its complexity, according to the biopsychosocial approach; therefore, it is more often observed as a dimension that is influenced by several factors that are intertwined with each other over a longer period of time [7–9]. We should point out here that although this perspective more frequently looks at the long term, there is also the possibility of focusing on happiness in the very short term (e.g., focusing only on the momentary positive emotional state after many shared laughs in a social environment). However, happiness is nowadays more frequently understood as an existential aspect that is measured over a long period of life and that is also often

In order to focus on the complexity of this concept, this book includes several sections. The first is a review of biological views on happiness, for example, by measuring it in a positive emotional state in the short term, or by observing how the concept of happiness is influenced by peculiar biological states, typical of particular and limited phases of the life

The second section presents research on happiness that emphasises its psychological aspects and long-term perspectives as well as considers the broader concept of well-being.

The third section explores how the social point of view influences happiness. This is undeniable if we also think of Bauman's studies, for example, who observes that globalisation for some people means everything we are forced to do in order to achieve happiness, and for others, it is the very cause of our unhappiness [10]. This statement shows us how the habitat of life is inevitably influenced by a wider social environment as well as by the interpretations of individuals (the social and psychological aspects influence each other). Beyond globalisation, it was also interesting to observe how specific, individual local cultures can influence a specific society and the conception of happiness and well-being in that specific context.

Finally, the fourth section of the book presents a broader, anthropological philosophical

In taking leave of this work, we thank all the scientists who participated and we trust that the scholar who wishes to consult this book will intercept themes, perspectives, and avenues of research that, precisely because of their complexity and diversity of contexts

**Floriana Irtelli**

**Fabio Gabrielli** School of Managment, University Jean Monnet,

Milan, Italy

Bari, Italy

Catholic University of Sacred Heart,

and approaches, will stimulate their intellectual curiosity and critical spirit.

view of happiness with a focus on specific cultural aspects.

long terms, according to short-range and teleological ontologies.

manifested in today's very broad and widespread concept of well-being.

cycle, such as pregnancy.

**1**

Section 1

Biological Perspective

Section 1
