Post by TheKorean on Nov 17, 2009 12:48:52 GMT -5
Happiness - one indistinct mass, or a collection of distinct categories?
Happiness is hard to define, but let's try to look at it in two opposing ways.
Model 1 of Happiness:
Happiness depends on accumulating the right amounts of A, B, C, and D (i.e. wealth, glory, relationships, etc.). You must have the right amount of each category otherwise you cannot be happy. You also cannot substitute one for the other. For example, if you have twice as much A as you need to be happy, but no B at all (and C and D in just the right amounts), you still will not be happy because that double dose of A does not compensate for the absence of B.
Is that how happiness works, or is it more like this:
Model 2 of Happiness:
Happiness is a singular entity that is not divided into categories. If you have ONLY A or ONLY B (or C or D), it's still possible to be happy because you don't necessarily need huge amounts of EVERY category (or even any at all from any particular category) to be happy. The categories are there, but you don't need a certain amount from each for happiness. Even if you have 0% of, say, C, it's all right as long as there's more A, B, or D to fill the gap.
Happiness is hard to define, but let's try to look at it in two opposing ways.
Model 1 of Happiness:
Happiness depends on accumulating the right amounts of A, B, C, and D (i.e. wealth, glory, relationships, etc.). You must have the right amount of each category otherwise you cannot be happy. You also cannot substitute one for the other. For example, if you have twice as much A as you need to be happy, but no B at all (and C and D in just the right amounts), you still will not be happy because that double dose of A does not compensate for the absence of B.
Is that how happiness works, or is it more like this:
Model 2 of Happiness:
Happiness is a singular entity that is not divided into categories. If you have ONLY A or ONLY B (or C or D), it's still possible to be happy because you don't necessarily need huge amounts of EVERY category (or even any at all from any particular category) to be happy. The categories are there, but you don't need a certain amount from each for happiness. Even if you have 0% of, say, C, it's all right as long as there's more A, B, or D to fill the gap.