tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261994975895323987.post4348945763727679692..comments2023-12-24T15:12:18.168-08:00Comments on books, etc.: The Pursuit of Happiness: An Economy of Well-Being / Carol Graham -- Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution, 2011Alan Mattlagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09123037050466769121noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261994975895323987.post-73083592826856561912012-01-25T18:25:43.183-08:002012-01-25T18:25:43.183-08:00Graham wonders whether the current interest in qua...Graham wonders whether the current interest in quality of life indexes are a passing fad. Hopefully, it isn't. Two things that stood out for me in the researh that Graham cites are that increases in material wealth increases happiness, but only to a point. After that, it isn't really a factor in promoting happiness. Second, a person's happiness tends to start out high and decline toward middle age, then increase as we get older. I'm happy to say I'm on the upward side of the slope! <br /><br />One caveat just to be on the record: when I advocate prioritizing liberty and opportunity of maximizing the well-being of the least well-off, I'm not including property rights in the means of production as a basic liberty.<br /><br />Enjoy Sandel's visit.Alan Mattlagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06002254538342389502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261994975895323987.post-21548548986248431262012-01-24T05:50:22.995-08:002012-01-24T05:50:22.995-08:00Excellent point about Aristotle, whose idea of hap...Excellent point about Aristotle, whose idea of happiness comprised so much more than autonomy. I like your phrase “happiness market failures,” too. It brings home the truth that having and making choices may be necessary but is certainly not sufficient for happiness. <br /><br />There is another economic measure I have read about, the name of which escapes me at the moment. It measures goods like civic engagement, public spaces, clean air, clean water, and the score goes down for pollution, crime, etc. In other words, the sad economic transactions Robert Kennedy referred to are not counted as adding to national life. <br /><br />Michael Sandel is coming to Traverse City this year. I’m looking forward to the event. Too many nonphilosophers have never even heard the term ‘communitarianism’ and would probably think—well, you can guess what they would think. The debate on the good life definitely needs to be widened. Thanks for your contribution, Alan.P. J. Grathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693462910472164289noreply@blogger.com