Comment by pmoriarty | Hacker News Reader

Comment by pmoriarty | Hacker News Reader

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"I concur that we should follow Bhutan's example and switch to GNH as the most logical way to create a healthy society."

The article you're replying to argues directly against such measures of happiness, and against the very idea that happiness should be the goal of society or of life.

The article deserves reading in full, but here are a few relevant excerpts:

"To assign numbers as the UN does, one must assume that happiness is a single thing measurable by a single gauge."

"As the philosopher John Rawls pointed out, a society of happiness-seekers would have no reason not to borrow heavily and leave the debt to future generations."

"Even if one's goal is the best life for the individual, the search for happiness may be a false path."

Which is why i referenced the quote afterwards to illustrate that the pursuit of happiness is not necessarily the answer and of course happiness in itself is very hard to quantify but attempting to use it as measurement would create a better situation for humanity.

If we assume that Krishnamurti is correct and happiness is a byproduct the question naturally arises, a byproduct of what?

The word “concur” means to agree.

As the article makes no reference to Bhutan, national policy, nor concludes that happiness is a worthy goal, perhaps you intended a different word?

You are right i should have articulated better. I do think there is a problem with happiness in that:

1) Any measurement is only an approximation

2) It is quite possible that the "pursuit of happiness" is a damaging force in humanity (it is detrimental to the environment driven by rampant consumerism with the never-fulfilled goal of being "happy")

3) That there is the possibility that it is a side effect of something else amd therefore seeking it is a fools errand.

I mentioned Bhutan as they are the only country i know of that does currently use GNH and regardless of the problems i perceive with the concept of happiness i still think using it as basic measure would change the dynamics of society in a positive way

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