Here on earth the death of Bontshe Shweig made no impression. ... The death of a tram horse whould have caused more excitement. ... But that's not how it was in the other world. There Bontshe's death was occasion. ... "The Heavenly Tribunal can pass no judgement on you. It is not for us to determine your portion in paradise. Take what you want! ... "Well, then," smiled Bontshe, "what I'd like most of all is a warm roll with fresh butter every morning."
This story indicates that happiness is relative.
Studies have shown than many people would be happy if they acheived the economic status of those just one step above them.
See this book: Frank, R. H. (1999). Luxury Fever : Why Money Fails to Satisfy in an Era of Excess. New York, Free Press. Princeton University Press paperback edition, 2000. Policies not Politics ---- Daily Landscape
I think we might do better to concentrate on reducing known indicators of misery [infant mortality, short life expectancy, analfabetism, endemic disease] rather than try to come up with measures of happiness and ways to improve it.
Yes, this is what I meant by
I was initially thinking of a "Misery" index as a "Popperian" tool -- i.e. gradual improvement through the identification and correction of weaknesses and mistakes.
Perhaps as science cannot prove anything to be "true" with finality, but can only reduce falsehoods, we should not necessarily strive to make everyone "happy", but to reduce suffering. And give everyone as much opportunity as possible to create their own "happiness". Point n'est besoin d'espérer pour entreprendre, ni de réussir pour persévérer. - Charles le Téméraire
