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I don't see how that makes the measure bullshit. Outlook and expectations are related to happiness. If you want for nothing but have little it's better than a never ending treadmill of more.

Having a culture that produces happier people in worse circumstances doesn't make those people less happy.

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> Having a culture that produces happier people in worse circumstances doesn't make those people less happy

The question is whether stoicism in the face of what most people would categorize as suffering should be classified as “happiness”.

Yes, absolutely. How else would you define it? The whole point of happiness is that is a subjective, internal state. If you just want to know if people live in a cold, dark climate you don't need to ask them.

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