Introduction to the special issue on advice for a happy life
The demand for happiness advice is vast and many different thinkers have offered their views. This special issue presents a cross section of happiness counseling through the ages and considers the advice by classic Chinese philoso phers, Epicurus, Schopenhauer, as well as contemporary New Age thinkers and self help authors. The papers follow three leading questions: 1) What is recommended for leading a happy life? 2) How does this advice fit in the worldview of the author and into a social, cultural and historical context? 3) Are the recommendations in line with what is known about the conditions of happiness? There are common themes in advice for a happy life but also much contradiction, and some honoured philoso phers offer advice that can harm happiness if it is taken to heart by present day readers.