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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Religious,philosophica and Psychological Foundations of Happiness Introduction Happiness is the major concept of every time and place, and has always been emphasized in different schools by different scholars. It can be investigated from different points of view.

Investigation of happiness from the religious, philosophical and psychological viewpoints may be considered as the most important one; especially that the close relationship between religion and philosophy is a very significant matter in this regard. Paying attention to the factors, which have influence on happiness, is really considering all virtuous, merits, values, and "what's desirable and worthwhile" (White, 2006).

Those who have recognized these factors can live happier (Martin, 2006) and this indicates the might and magnitude of happiness. It is here that knowledge is truly causes happiness and so the ways to nurturing it can be discovered. Happiness is taken from the Greek word 'Happ' which means "Luck or good fortune" (Martin, 2006). Although there is pleasure in happiness, but happiness is not equal to pleasure.

It is much higher than Pleasure; it is a real, stable and original pleasure which is quite consistent with man's nature. Pleasure is one of the elements of (or subset of) happiness (Martin, 2006 & Blackburn 2005). In other words, though there is pleasure in happiness, but happiness is not the same as pleasure.

According to Martin (2006), happiness consists of a combination of three distinct elements; pleasure (the emotional sensation of feeling good in the here and now), the absence of displeasure (freedom from unpleasant sensations, such as anxiety or pain) and satisfaction (judging, or reflection, that your life is good). Thus, happiness depends on both feeling (pleasure) and thinking (satisfaction).

Some psychologists and philosophers argue that there is a fourth dimension to happiness, which they variously refer to as 'meaning', 'purpose' or 'virtue'. This embodies the sense that for a life to be truly happy it must have some deeper purpose or meaning beyond pleasure or satisfaction. For some people, this fourth dimension means religion, though the fourth dimension can be included in the other dimensions, especially the element of satisfaction.