wisdom of life

Chapter 2 Introduction
In this book, the so-called "wisdom of life" is purely metaphysical; the meaning of "wisdom of life" here is the art of how to live life as satisfactorily and happily as possible.The teaching on this aspect may be called "the theory of happiness" in philosophy.Therefore, this book teaches people how to enjoy a happy existence.And such "happy existence" can be defined as definitely better than non-survival when viewed purely objectively, or more precisely, through calm and careful thinking (because subjective judgment is involved here).Since "happy existence" is such a definition, we can say this: we are attached to this existence for its own sake, not out of fear of death; and we long to see this existence able to continue forever.Whether or not human life can or does not correspond to existence so defined is a question in itself.To this question, my philosophy has clearly and unequivocally given a negative answer; but the philosophy of happiness presupposes a positive answer to this question.This affirmative answer to the theory of happiness is based on an inborn error of human beings, which has been criticized in Chapter 2, the second volume of my main work [49].But in order to complete a work such as Theory of Happiness, I can only give up the higher, metaphysical and moral perspectives-and my real philosophy is to lead people into such perspectives.The arguments I have made in this book, therefore, have indeed been compromised in so far as they have been made from a commonplace, practical point of view, and have retained the fallacies associated with this point of view.For this reason, their value can only be conditional.In fact, the word Eudamonologie [3] itself is a euphemism.Moreover, the arguments are far from complete—one of the reasons why I have dealt with an inexhaustible subject; the other is that if I were to discuss the subject in its entirety, I would have to repeat what others have already said.

As far as I can remember, Cardanus's worthwhile book, On Adversity, had much the same purpose as my book of Proverbs.It can be used as a supplement to my book.Although Aristotle [4] in the first Chapter 5 of his "Rhetoric" included brief discussions on euphoria, those are just commonplaces.I have not made use of the works of these predecessors, because it is not my job to assemble the words of others; besides, if I had done so, I would have lost the consistency of opinion which is the soul of such writings .Generally speaking, of course, wise men of all ages have said the same thing, and fools—that is, an uncountable majority of people of all ages—do the exact opposite of the same thing.Therefore, Voltaire [5] said: "When we leave this world, this world is still as stupid and wicked as we found when we first came into this world."

注释
[1] Shangfort (1740-1794): French writer and person who is good at rhetoric.Known for his wit, the aphorisms he wrote became popular folk sayings during the French Revolution. - translator

【2】Refers to "The World as Will and Representation". - translator

[3] That is, the theory of happiness. - translator

[4] Cardanos (1501-1576): Italian medical scientist and mathematician. - translator

[5] Aristotle (before 384-before 322): ancient Greek philosopher and scientist. - translator

[6] Voltaire (1694-1778): French Enlightenment thinker, writer, and philosopher. - translator

(End of this chapter)