Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Goodness
This weekend Jews around the world celebrated the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah marking the beginning of the year 5077. As a traditional new year’s greeting we wish each other L’shana tova, or may you have a year full of goodness. We don’t wish each other a happy new year but rather wish for a good year. I have never considered the difference.
At our temple this year, Rabbi Les Gutterman pointed out the literal translation of L’shana tova and the distinction between happiness and goodness during his Rosh Hashanah sermon. He also posed a very interesting question to the congregation. “What if our founding fathers had proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence that our inalienable rights included life, liberty, and the pursuit of goodness instead of the pursuit of happiness? Would we be better off if we valued goodness above happiness? Rabbi Gutterman’s questions always make me think and this one was no different. I have been pondering his question and the difference between happiness and goodness.
It seems to me that happiness is a state of mind and goodness is more of a state of being. Happiness is more inward focused and transient while goodness is more outward focused and a value or character trait that doesn’t come and go. I started listing words that come to mind for both happiness and goodness.
Happiness brings to mind satisfaction, pleasure, delight, contentment, and joy.
Goodness brings to mind kindness, generosity, beneficial, helpful, and character.
Happiness is more individually focused. What will make me happy? How can I make you happy? While not always the case happiness tends to be about receiving rather than giving. Goodness is more community focused. What will be most helpful to others? What charitable act or kindness can I provide to a neighbor or someone less fortunate in the community? To see the goodness in someone is to see one’s essence and strength.
Nothing against the pursuit of happiness but if it were possible to amend the Declaration of Independence I would advocate for asserting our inalienable rights for life, liberty, and the pursuit of goodness.
If our society was based more on the value of goodness than individual happiness I think we would make more progress on the big societal issues of our time. We would treat each other with more respect and civility. We would make more progress in transforming important social systems including our health care and education systems. We would take our environmental stewardship responsibility more seriously. We would work hard with a generosity of spirit to leave behind a better world for future generations.
Here’s to the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of goodness. L’shana tova. May you have a year full of goodness.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bernd Nurnberger. Bernd Nurnberger said: RT @skap5: Editing the Declaration of Independence. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Goodness. New blog post: http://cli.gs/p90VR0 [...]
the pursuit of goodness…. http://tinyurl.com/l8udj4 thank you @skap5
RT @monk51295: the pursuit of goodness…. http://tinyurl.com/l8udj4 thank you @skap5 Great post to get one thinking!
What a wonderful distinction. Perhaps one of the differences is that what we really need as individuals to be happy can be elusive, but it seems to me that goodness comes down to pretty clear moment to moment choices.
Wishing you a year of goodness!
Saul, I really like this post. Today I discussed it with a Chinese patent attorney that I tutor in English, and he liked it too. I like how you and the Rabbi point out the dramatic difference between goodness and happiness. My student pointed out that the ways of greeting someone on Chinese New Year also reflect somewhat parallel social values. When greeting a young person, you say “Congratulations on getting rich.” When greeting an old person, you say, “Wishing you good health.” These both differ from “Happy New Year” and “Wishing you goodness in the new year,” in literal meaning if not social usage.
Thanks for all your thought-provoking posts!
Leslie
Saul,
I think that I finally understand you! This is a beautiful article and I will share it with many people. I believe that it translates to every religion and pursuit that a person can undertake. As I go home for the anniversary of my father’s passing your words resonate with me in particular. I don’t go for happiness but for the goodness of who my father was and the relationship that we had. I think that is the essence of what you were saying. We had happy times but the goodness that came from our relationship outlives the happiness.
I’m not sure I entirely agree with the distinction you’ve drawn between goodness and happiness. If one isn’t happy with oneself, it’s difficult to be good and do good. Happiness brings to my mind not just my own happiness but the desire to share it with those around me - happiness should be contagious. A case can be made for pursuing good in order to find happiness. I think the two are more entertwined than they are distinct.