But it definitely can be- restricting happiness to one definition eliminates the happiness that those activities can bring if pursued from a mission driven perspective. Playing a round of golf with a focus of perfecting the precise movements and psychological efforts needed to improve is a very similar mission driven activity that would generate happiness. Similarly using it as an avenue of improving and enjoying the company of others (can be classified as ‘neighbours’ in Shapiro’s intro) would classify as that social interaction that the thesis claims is lacking. Same can be said for the ecstatic furthering of the mind by appreciating musical nuance and brilliance from artists, and enjoying that with a social experience that is religious in its own right, with thousands of people sharing that experience. While it would be difficult for either to be a true cornerstone to achieving happiness they can definitely play a big part of an individual’s ability to be happy, and rejecting this from the start I believe is not correct
