Everyone tries to achieve happiness, however, only a few are capable of achieving pure bliss without having to depend on materialistic items to feel content. Diderot writes about how the Tahitians perceive the Europeans as corrupt and controlled by their urge for more. Whereas, Rousseau describes how his stay on the island has cultivated him, he appreciates the beauty of mother nature. Both Diderot and Rousseau express in their texts how they or others have achieved euphoria without relying on materialistic items around them. Although Diderot and Rousseau have different concepts of what happiness is, it is agreed that happiness is only achievable when one forgoes the conformity of society and concentrates on the natural world surrounding them.
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He did not have much interaction with the mainland, other than the letters he received and sent. Rousseau states “I look upon these two months as the happiest time of my life, so happy that I would have been content to live all my life in this way” (Rousseau, 1979. pg. 48). Rousseau is completely infatuated with the island; he would happily live out the rest of his days there. Rousseau spent most of his days studying the nature that he was surrounded with, he studied the plants, the grass, etc. He found pure bliss being in this remote island and only focusing on the nature with in and surrounding the island. He began to question how long this bliss would last for since he believes that happiness is a fleeting state which leaves our hearts still empty and anxious. Rousseau feels that happiness can only be found within, in ones inner self, anything beyond that is fleeting. “There is nothing solid there for the heart to attach itself to. Thus our earthly joys are almost without exception the creatures of a moment; I doubt whether any of us know the meaning of lasting happiness” (Rousseau, 1979. pg. 51). In this quote Rousseau is referring to his stay on the island, and although his stay there was blissful, he had to return to reality, which ended his moments of happiness that were external of himself. Both Diderot and Rousseau have expressed in their texts the important role that nature plays when they think of happiness. Diderot perceives happiness as being free, and enjoying nature without the constrains of technology. Moreover, he believes that one should be satisfied with what one has and is given, without the constant need of wanting more. Rousseau shares the same views as Diderot in terms of nature, but he still holds onto the view that external happiness is not a constant, and only pure bliss can be found within the
He did not have much interaction with the mainland, other than the letters he received and sent. Rousseau states “I look upon these two months as the happiest time of my life, so happy that I would have been content to live all my life in this way” (Rousseau, 1979. pg. 48). Rousseau is completely infatuated with the island; he would happily live out the rest of his days there. Rousseau spent most of his days studying the nature that he was surrounded with, he studied the plants, the grass, etc. He found pure bliss being in this remote island and only focusing on the nature with in and surrounding the island. He began to question how long this bliss would last for since he believes that happiness is a fleeting state which leaves our hearts still empty and anxious. Rousseau feels that happiness can only be found within, in ones inner self, anything beyond that is fleeting. “There is nothing solid there for the heart to attach itself to. Thus our earthly joys are almost without exception the creatures of a moment; I doubt whether any of us know the meaning of lasting happiness” (Rousseau, 1979. pg. 51). In this quote Rousseau is referring to his stay on the island, and although his stay there was blissful, he had to return to reality, which ended his moments of happiness that were external of himself. Both Diderot and Rousseau have expressed in their texts the important role that nature plays when they think of happiness. Diderot perceives happiness as being free, and enjoying nature without the constrains of technology. Moreover, he believes that one should be satisfied with what one has and is given, without the constant need of wanting more. Rousseau shares the same views as Diderot in terms of nature, but he still holds onto the view that external happiness is not a constant, and only pure bliss can be found within the