According to Chatelet and Descartes, prejudice is erroneous in our knowledge of everything we know. Prejudice, for Châtelet, “is an opinion that one has accepted without examination because it would be indefensible otherwise” (Discourse on Happiness, 352) Stating a controversial opinion for that period, Chatelet states that prejudice is found in most of the Church's teachings. She also says that present in multiple facets of our daily lives. Chatelet insists on holding on to illusions, for they are the ones that please us. It is through our passions that we are happy. If we do not find something as strong as passions, then our tastes bring us pleasure. For someone to be happy, they need to indulge in their desires. They need to allow themselves to immerse in that passion completely. If that passion is harmful, then one cannot fully enjoy it. This is because happiness comes from experiences of pleasure. When we thoroughly investigate our tastes and desires, we can rid ourselves of prejudice. After this, we can understand precisely what brings us happiness. Happiness, when rid of prejudice, according to Chatelet, brings contentment. Happiness is virtuous, and it brings that contentment. Chatelet believes that prejudice is an evil lurking in our experiences. Prejudice turns them into harmful experiences and torture our consciousness. This is because we cannot be happy and immoral. For example, thieves cannot be happy for they live a prejudiced life full of evil, “they can only be useful to malformed souls, for there are corrupted souls just as there are deformed bodies.” (Discourse on Happiness, 353) Chatelet also believes that if we do not thoroughly understand our tastes and the experience, we cannot experience happiness. To truly understand experiences and preferences, we need to rid ourselves of prejudice. Chatelet brings up an excellent point, which is that happiness is relative and is dependent on society. Living a virtuous life and becoming an honorable person, one is accepted into society. This acceptance brings a great deal of contentment and happiness to one’s daily life. A person’s conscience plays an essential role in contentment. Nevertheless, an immoral life and disdain from society can cause uneasiness in one’s conscience. Uneasiness leads to unhappiness. One’s concept of happiness has to be independent. It cannot rely on anything else, like society. Happiness can only be achieved when one is confident. This confidence and indulgence in one’s passions and experiences brings happiness. This independence can be achieved primarily through ridding oneself of prejudice. It is also achieved after thoroughly understanding what gives oneself pleasure. According to Chatelet, once one is confident no harm can come out of that experience, one is on the correct path to independent happiness. Sources https://medium.com/@tonymdimauro/what-does-it-take-to-be-happy-bf822a1ff400. https://www.degruyter.com/chicago/view/book/9780226168081/10.7208/9780226168081-010.xml

It may seem weird for anyone to take a stance against this. However, internal prejudice is natural and common, and exists in every group of people of any race anywhere in the world. Certain prejudices, such as towards skin color, have been shown in children too young to have even developed prejudices from personal experiences or information/misinformation. It is a thought, which is different from discrimination, which is this internal prejudice put into action. Do you know where discrimination is most common? In people who think they aren't prejudiced. Either because they have defined themselves as "not racist", or consider themselves part of a group that "can't be prejudiced, because they themselves are the victims of prejudice." In order to fight discrimination, you have to acknowledge prejudices in yourself. It IS there. Maybe you had a boyfriend who treated you badly so now you feel especially snappy around men. Maybe one too many off-color 80's action movies has your guard up around black men, if ever so slightly. Or perhaps people dismissing your social issues because they don't apply to them, leaves you defensive around others. If you can't acknowledge these biases, and you can't overcome them, you can't understand how they crop up, and you can't fix them. A system is only stable as long as it has feedback. A zero-tolerance policy towards thoughts results in things internal paranoia, overcompensation or nervousness that makes things worse, or outright denial. We have to accept that prejudice DOES and will CONTINUE to exist, in order to know what to look for, and what to keep in check in order to keep internal prejudices from turning into discrimination.

People who are less prejudiced may be happier than more prejudiced people, but to claim it's NECESSARY? Really? You don't think there's ever been such things as a racist who was perfectly content with who they were?

Some prejudices are unconscious and do not reflect who we are, we are conditioned to have those thoughts. They are our brain's way of filling in gaps when we don't know something and we can't possibly know everyone and everything so we generalise. It is internalised, sometimes even towards ourselves. Most people work to unlearn this and correct themselves quickly and are curious to learn more and indulge in different perspectives and cultures within reason. These people can still be completely content. One can certainly also still be blissfully ignorant and hateful. However, this begs the question of what true happiness is and if you can truly be happy while you are closed off towards so many people and experiences out of sheer ignorance and hatred. A narrow view of the world you never have to question due to privelleges makes your life easier but it hinders you from progressing and enriching it. It makes enemies and people will resent you for it. Even unintentional prejudice shuts doors and opportunities for growth. It holds you back from your potential and a key factor in happiness is personal/individual growth that requires taking the time to see more of the world around you and expand your bubble. Thus, you can be happy and prejudiced in any capacity from unintentionally biased to straight up unapologetically a terrible person. However, this happiness is fleeting and temporary. It is hollow and unfulfilling. An open mind and heart will make you happy in the long run. It is helpful to unlearn your prejudices, but by no means necessary because happiness is happiness even if it is skin deep.