A Research On Hannah Arendt' Public Happiness Thought

Hannah Arendt(1906—1975)is one of the famous and the most original political philosopher in the west in 20th century. She pointed out that revolution is the only political event in modern times in her On Revolution and the word and experience we use today can be traced back to the French Revolution and the American Revolution in 18th century. By comparing the failure of the French Revolution and the success of the American Revolution, she thought that American Revolution made achievements in three aspects: Got rid of the social issues, Established the freedom-constitutional and Created a new political authority. According to the study of the original experience of the revolution,Arendt reshaped the concept and meaning of the revolution: the task of the revolution is to establish a lasting freedom space, the principle of the revolution is to love and pursue the public freedoms and the public happiness.In Arendt's understanding of the process of the modern revolution, as a great action of a new beginning, revolution is the fulfillment of public happiness. Arendt quoted medieval Christian philosopher Augustine's"Man of the creation, should start", to ask people to fully experience the beginning of new happiness, which is considered to be public happiness. In her opinion, what the founders of the United States supported is not the private welfare or property ownership, but the pursuit of public happiness as"participants in public affairs".In the experience of the founders, revolution as the beginning of the great action is to establish an open free and equal public sphere. People as a"public power sharing"went together for discussion, persuasion, decision-making, and the pleasure of conversation, the legislation and negotiation, persuasion and convinced by others is beyond all the private happiness. The Founders'passion of the pursuit of public happiness intensified their attacks on the autocracy, and after the revolution, the Constitution and the Oath aims to maintain public happiness constantly. As a thinker of conscience, Hannah Arendt stood in the center of the storm directly. She had to reflect and ask the following questions in the face of the Western society modern crisis and political crisis: how can we understand the modern"revolution"? How can we draw on the public happiness to inspire citizens to participate in political activities actively? What can we do in protecting public sphere from destroyed where citizens can speech and act freely,so that citizens can enjoy an experience which can't experienced from the private sphere——"public happiness"?Would it possible for us to maintain public happiness? Arendt thought that the goal of revolution is freedom, so we can realize that the reason for politics is public happiness. Arendt defined the public happiness as citizens pursuing their own uniqueness through political action in the public sphere, enjoying the fun of discussing, persuading, and making decision.