> So relative poverty is what matters They both matter. Having a society of full economic and social equality (whatever that means) at circa 1700 living stand

> So relative poverty is what matters They both matter. Having a society of full economic and social equality (whatever that means) at circa 1700 living standards is arguably worse than what we have now, looking from the outside in. From the inside, people in such a society might indeed be happy enough because they are no worse off than anyone else...