Final answer:
The pursuit of happiness can lead to positive outcomes, but also to a paradox where chasing happiness makes us unhappy due to dissatisfaction or the inability to measure happiness effectively. Philosophical and psychological perspectives show there's no definitive answer, with Aristotle presenting a viewpoint where happiness is linked to virtue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question whether trying to be happy can make us unhappy is rooted in psychological and philosophical inquiry. Some researchers, like Lyubomirsky and others, suggest that pursuit of happiness can lead to positive outcomes and even success. However, other scholars like Quoidbach et al. present a dual effect of certain conditions, like wealth on happiness, indicating that the more we have, the more we want, which could lead to dissatisfaction and hence, a paradox of chasing happiness. Feagin discusses dissatisfaction as a source of higher pleasures by motivating us to improve our lives.
From the point of view of utilitarianism, as shown in the example of deciding to create a new national park in Kenya, the quantification of happiness is a significant challenge. This proves the difficulty of creating a definitive answer to the question of whether seeking happiness might lead to unhappiness, as our efforts to measure and understand happiness are inherently fraught with complications.
Aristotle's claim that happiness is the ultimate good and virtue is necessary for it is a declarative statement among the provided options, indicating a position or claim on the topic of happiness and virtue.