Happiness Is Only a Proximate Goal

Happiness is a proximate outcome. It matters, and it is nice. But it is not an ultimate evolutionary outcome.

Thus, we may be thrilled to have a piece of chocolate cake on the table in front of us at a birthday party. But that momentary happiness is not an end goal in itself. We evolved to be happy when presented with rich food offerings because our ancestors, who were motivated to find rich foods, were more likely to eat and thus survive and reproduce.