Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.17234/SocEkol.35.2.1
Psychodynamics of the pursuit of happiness beyond nature
Matko Krce-Ivančić
; Institut za turizam
*
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
The article first critically examines Sloterdijk’s account of globalisation as the expansionism of the pursuit of happiness, where the pursuit of happiness becomes planetary. In contrast to Sloterdijk, it is argued that the psychodynamics of the pursuit of happiness has not led us to the age of side effects. We have, quite on the contrary, remained in the age of ignorance that is mainly characterised by cynical reason. This age is marked not only by the disregard of the harmfulness of our pursuit of happiness but also by its active fostering. Following a discussion on the limits of the environment, the article proceeds to show that happiness is nowadays largely (mis)understood as a natural activity and, in this way, taken for granted. Drawing on psychoanalytic theory, I claim that the problem with this reasoning is that it forecloses the political character of pursuing happiness. It prevents us from seeing that the pursuit of happiness is always already beyond nature. The article emphasises that nature is not a balanced entity that could serve as a role model for an alternative psychodynamics of the pursuit of happiness. I finally make it apparent that considering happiness to be the result of aligning our conduct with nature opens an ideological space that is receptive to racism.
Ključne riječi
environment; happiness; nature; political; racism
Hrčak ID:
349736
URI
Datum izdavanja:
24.7.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *