2 ms·
No. Success is, by Western definition, relative. In a post-scarcity society like the West it has to be zero sum or it's meaningless. Once you clear the barrier
by tormeh 12y ago
No. Success is, by Western definition, relative. In a post-scarcity society like the West it has to be zero sum or it's meaningless. Once you clear the barrier of survival being a measure for success, success is just doing better than the neighbors.
- im3w1l 12y agoWow. So beyond survival all happiness comes from beating your neighbour, and the sum of happiness is constant? I must say I really disagree with this.
- tormeh 12y agoI'm talking about the "he's a successful guy" kind of success. No, happiness is not zero sum. It's something like logarithmic with absolute wealth, but way more sensitive to relative wealth. Of course there's more to happiness than net worth, but that's outside the scope of this discussion.
- Natsu 12y agoThose seem like personal (or perhaps social) problems for those who think that way. Seeing lots of people who are not well off certainly doesn't make me any happier. It depresses me and makes me want to help the local shelters.
- Natsu 12y agoPerhaps others think that way, I do not recognize that as "success" at all. I don't care if my lifestyle is better or worse than those around me, only that I have what I want.