Happiness in the context of Latvians | Laime latviskā kontekstā
2008
Leikuma, I., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia)
The article inspects the question of Latvian identity, tradition and conditions of its development, the personality self, self-esteem and the conception of happiness. Methods used for the output of information are observational research and content analysis. National identity is a bordering feeling which unites individuals and separates the categories of 'we' and 'they'. The sense of national identity gives the individual a chance to become aware of the personal self through the prism of specific national culture. To understand the essentials of a nation, it is necessary to take into consideration 1) historical evidence; 2) analysis of contemporary situation; 3) forecasts of future processes. The self consists of the relationship between the individual and the society; it develops in the interaction of private and public spheres. Self-esteem and self-reflection are significant aspects of the self. Being aware of the personal uniqueness, the individual still preserves the sense of belonging to a certain community. The social standing is the main factor of personal perception of values, feeling of comfort and happiness. Research of happiness is nowadays one of the interdisciplinary research trends in social sciences. The notion of 'happiness' designates affective and cognitive aspects of a general situation. The philosophers are trying to formulate what is a 'happy life', the psychologists are attempting to distinguish different types of happiness and to make them measurable, and the economists are researching the connection between the income and happiness. This article deals with the problem interpreting the happiness in context of Latvians regarding philosophical, psychological and economical aspects.
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