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>Based on what objective measurement Happiness is subjective, not objective. >Happiness does not change much as long you can meet the basic needs for food / w

>Based on what objective measurement Happiness is subjective, not objective. >Happiness does not change much as long you can meet the basic needs for food / water / safety. See Maslow's Hierarchy. >On the other hand primitive lifestyles have significantly shorter lifespans which is objectively an issue. What do you mean "objectively an issue"? One does not need to live a long life to live a fullfilling life. Many of these tribal socities have survived far longer than other civilized societies because they live in equilibrium with their environment.

Retric 9y ago
Research disagrees, you can measure happiness of other people. Much like you can test for depression even if the difference is not subjectively obvious.
- wu-ikkyu 9y ago
  >Subjective: based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. There are no objective biological tests for depression (or happiness), the psychiatric diagnosis relies exclusively on subjective observations (i.e. asking the person about their feelings). >"psychiatric diagnosis still relies exclusively on fallible subjective judgments rather than objective biological tests." -Allen Frances https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Frances https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Frances The idea of happiness as a purely material objective phenomenon has been complicit in the exploitation and destruction of the Amazon and its inhabitants over the past centuries.
  - Retric 9y ago
    It's common to order blood tests when people show symptoms of depression. Hypothyroidism is the most common medical condition associated with depressive symptoms, but there are others. Depression is considered when people have a null result on those tests, therefore there are physical tests for depression. Just not in the way testing is normally thought of.
mcguire 9y ago
Raise your hand if you wouldn't have survived childhood without modern technology. Yes, you there with the glasses, get your hand up.

Retric 9y ago

Research disagrees, you can measure happiness of other people. Much like you can test for depression even if the difference is not subjectively obvious.

wu-ikkyu 9y ago
>Subjective: based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. There are no objective biological tests for depression (or happiness), the psychiatric diagnosis relies exclusively on subjective observations (i.e. asking the person about their feelings). >"psychiatric diagnosis still relies exclusively on fallible subjective judgments rather than objective biological tests." -Allen Frances https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Frances https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Frances The idea of happiness as a purely material objective phenomenon has been complicit in the exploitation and destruction of the Amazon and its inhabitants over the past centuries.
- Retric 9y ago
  It's common to order blood tests when people show symptoms of depression. Hypothyroidism is the most common medical condition associated with depressive symptoms, but there are others. Depression is considered when people have a null result on those tests, therefore there are physical tests for depression. Just not in the way testing is normally thought of.

mcguire 9y ago

Raise your hand if you wouldn't have survived childhood without modern technology. Yes, you there with the glasses, get your hand up.