What makes us happy? Travel? Recognition? A perfect relationship? Knowledge? A high h-index? And who should answer such a profound question: philosophy or neuroscience?

In their conversation on "The Art of True Happiness," neuroscientist Andrew Huberman and happiness philosopher Arthur Brooks draw on both, alongside personal faith. Their discussion raises fascinating questions: Does human happiness reflect something about how we are designed? Do the things that fulfill us reveal something about our origins?

The essence of Brooks' position is that humans experience happiness when our lives are in alignment with what we were designed to do, both as human beings and as individuals. Brooks identifies three “macronutrients” of happiness towards this end: enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning.

First, Brooks distinguishes enjoyment from pleasure. Pleasure rewards an immediate impulse; enjoyment requires that pleasure be brought into a relationship with other people or transcendence. Having a drink provides pleasure. Sharing that drink with old friends becomes enjoyment.

The ability to choose between pleasure and enjoyment, Brooks argues, comes from our “incredible prefrontal cortex.” He says the human prefrontal cortex is massive compared with other animals and allows us to choose between mere pleasure and moral aspiration.

From an intelligent design perspective, this is significant: human beings have a uniquely designed brain amongst the animal kingdom that can envision possibilities and deliberately choose one........

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