What does it really mean to be happy?

MPR News with Angela Davis · Dec 17, 2025 · 47m

Many of us think about, talk about and chase happiness. But it can be elusive and surprisingly complicated.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a philosopher who says happiness — at least the way we usually think of it — is really just a feeling that comes and goes. She says what truly matters is flourishing — living in a way that reflects our values, our relationships and the kind of person we’re trying to become.

Guest:

Valerie Tiberius is a professor of philosophy at the University of Minnesota. She is also the author of “What Do You Want Out of Life? A Philosophical Guide to…