Abstract

This paper concerns the different approach to happiness that distinguishes holism and individualism. The paper focuses on the current philosophical debate, but such a debate has ancient roots, as it respectively dates back to Plato and Epicurus. The main difference that since antiquity until today distinguishes holism and individualism is the different reference point: the reference point of holism is the community, whereas the reference point of individualism is the individual. The debate about happiness highlights how such a difference orients the whole theoretical system of the two approaches, but also how it founds the different theoretical perspective.