Unending Happiness
If you’re tired of reading about happiness, maybe you’d like to hear me talk about it. Here’s my appearance on Counterpoint for ABC National Radio (that’s Australia) with presenter Michael Duffy, and my latest Cato podcast with Anastasia Uglova.
If you’re not tired of reading about happiness, here are my contributions to the current Cato Unbound discussion.
The Quest for a Scientific Politics of Happiness
Happiness as an Input to Political Deliberation
Why We Think We’re Unhappy and What Not to Do About It
Good News about Depression and Suicide
The Artificiality of Happiness
These are a bit more polished than my average blog posts. You should, of course, read the whole discussion, which I’ve personally found very stimulating.
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Wow. I love your blog. I’ve been researching about happiness for a project I’m working on and your blog reminds me of the studies and info Karen Salmansohn posts on her blog at www.notsalmon.com and has on her Sirius radio show Be Happy Dammit. You should write to her and maybe she’ll have you on her radio show! Keep up the fabulous posts!
One thing I’m confused about after reading some of your papers is whether you disagree with the idea that “happiness is the only end.” In “The Artificiality of Happiness” you seem to be saying that a lifestyle that contains less happiness, but is more in harmony with “human nature,” should be preferred. Maybe it’s my naive utilitarianism speaking, but why would anyone take an action that decreased their overall happiness? Can you imagine a person giving up air conditioning? I can. . . if they receive a greater amount of happiness by knowing they live a “natural lifestyle.” But aren’t they still just choosing the greater quantity of happiness, as we all must?
I see a substantial difference between your more professional writing linked in this post and the ‘flavour’ of this blog. The former is searching, stimulating and reasonably ballanced, whereas the latter seems to be narrowly focussed on finding support for the dubious notion that money makes us happy and therefore we should maximise wealth. Why is this?