Definitions of Happiness, Scientific and Philosophical

The Declaration of Independence popularized,  '... and the pursuit of happiness..' so much that every one must have to be happy.

Few days ago a relative put forth his Philosophical definition of Happiness to me thus:

"Yes, I have a definition of Happiness too. Happiness is absence of Desire. Non-fulfilment of desire begets unhappiness. Fulfillment of one desire instantly generates another, higher desire. Therefore, Happiness is a utopian state, like Infinity in Maths and Physics. There, but not attainable. If you can, you would be a Buddha or Krishna"

Coincidentally, last week one of the trivia items at the end of the news was a mathematical formula for defining happiness. It went as follows. This is copied from the website given below. Scientists are saying they have discovered the formula for happiness. I am not mathematically inclined so I will not try to prove or disprove it. But the reporter who tested it himself said he came up with 'Sad' results .

Laugh! Laugh!! Laugh!!!

If you are mathematically inclined try it out....

Mathematical Formula

^{Happiness = baseline average mood + what you can settle for (CR) + what you'll get on average if you gamble (EV) + the difference between that and what you actually get (RPE). The recurring ∑-function weights each factor in turn by its recent history}

^{http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/11014611/Is-this-mathematical-equation-the-secret-to-happiness.html}