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is it definitional if you include in the definition of "happy" that you feel you are well off compared to others in your society? ie: if happiness is relative t
by zmmmmm 3y ago
is it definitional if you include in the definition of "happy" that you feel you are well off compared to others in your society? ie: if happiness is relative then you can't be happy unless you think others are less happy. Perhaps the trick of modern society is to convince most people, as individuals, that they are better off than average - even when logically that can't be true (putting aside differences b/w means and medians etc).
- avgcorrection 3y agoBeing happy because you think you are better off than some other people is definitely one kind of happiness but not the only one.
- rsynnott 3y ago> ie: if happiness is relative then you can't be happy unless you think others are less happy I don't _think_ most people think along those lines. I'd certainly hope not.
- zmmmmm 3y agoI think if you ask people what happiness is I agree, they'll come up with a different set of things. But if ask them if they are happy, they will reflect on how much worse their life could be and they'll largely see that in terms of how they perceive the rest of society around them. They will feel very guilty saying they are unhappy if they think they are actually better off than most other people are. So I agree with you but still think this effect will have an impact.