Consider this insight into the relationship between expectation and happiness as it might be used to think through a political thought experiment.Which of the three societies would be happiest (assume that everyone works):
a) a society in which half the households bring in more than $70,000 a year, the other half bring in less than $70,000 a year, and neither side expects to ever make more or less;
b) a society in which every household brings in $70,000 a year and no one expects to ever bring in much more or less;
c) a society in which a small number of households earns much more than $70,000; most earn much less than $70,000; and all believe that each year at least some households in the higher-income bracket will trade places with some in the lower income group?
What does your answer say about human nature and happiness calculations?
Society C would be the happiest. I think that Taylor (exercising creative intelligence) and Annas (achievement and success) would both agree with me. The "poor" household would gain happiness because they were working towards and striving for the highest success they could have: greater than $70,000. The work involved would come about from creative intelligence. And happiness would come from reaching that goal. The "rich" people would realize what happiness is once they were dropped into the "poor" houses. Looking at life from a global view as well as looking at the past, present, and future would reveal happiness. Being able to look back and see the "rich" past would show how they were happy. And then the process would start over again with the working and achieving. :)
ReplyDeleteHappiness can't really be measured or calculated. It is a definition that each individual decides for themselves. Human nature is to be happy. So that is something that all strive for.