In “We’re so Rich, Why Aren’t We Happy?” by Margaret Wente, the author is describing a situation that happened to her and, also, it’s reasons and consequences. She is telling about the things that can make us happy, although, that happiness would not last long because people are obsessed with things to buy because of the society. She provides an example of a sink that she would buy for her new house; the sink that she never saw before and that costs a lot of money, however, it will make her happy, of course, until she finds something better. The reason she needs that expensive sink and not a cheaper one is a self-confident point that was enforced by social surrounding.…
David Sze (July 7, 2015) posted a column in the Huffington Post entitled, “Money and Happiness? It’s Complicated.” As the title suggests, Sze discusses the link between having money and finding happiness, or “life satisfaction.” He approaches the issue from a post-modern perspective without considering any transcendent categories to evaluate the issue. Leaving a theistic perspective out, Sze struggles to find an adequate explanation for meaning, happiness and satisfaction in life.…
“The Experience Machine” is a thought experiment by Robert Nozick that imagines a machine that could give people whatever desirable or pleasurable experiences individuals could want. It would stimulate the person’s brain to cause pleasurable experiences that the subject could not distinguish from those apart from the machine. Hedonism is the idea that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life. As a hedonist, one tries to maximize net pleasure. A consideration of the experience machine shows that hedonism is flawed. According to hedonism, pleasure is the only thing humans seek. People should not consider the experience machine because it would bring pleasure all of the time. If people were given…
In the article “ Buying Happiness: The Depressing Reality of Materialism, written by Peter Dobson, he analyses the causes of depression as well as the potential cure. Dodson makes clear what he believes to be the root of depression for people in society. Dodson’s arguments are clear throughout his article and with the statistical data used, it seems to be the best possible to strengthen. His article is not specific to any one group of people but actually to everyone who is a consumer. Dodson is very persuasive in his argument and he is successful at dong so because of his supporting evidence. It is made easy for the readers to understand and relate to his arguments.…
experiences can be good or bad ones, either way they leave a lasting impression on us. In The…
The true path to happiness is usually painted as a dollar sign; however, in Jessica Krampe’s article “Does Money Really Make People Happier?” a different picture is painted. In fact, money may negatively impact our lives if not utilized correctly despite popular understanding that it is the key to limitless happiness. While money does play an important role in the creation of individual happiness by providing safety and stability, money may also act as a conduit for insecurity and a feeling of being constricted. Krampe exposes the steps behind happiness when combined with wealth. Emphasizing that luxury will not facilitate happiness in the long run, the logic and statistics used by Kempre further pushes the idea that modesty and self-worth…
K.G. Niederhoffer & J.W. Pennebaker (2002). “Sharing One’s Story: On the Benefits of Writing and Talking about Emotional Experience.” In C.R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology (pp. 573-583) London: Oxford University Press…
Our society has always been defined by the need for more, and the novelty of material goods plays an important role in societal…
When most people think about a significant experience as something like; studying abroad, taking vacations, or meeting new people. Now while I have met many types of people and traveled quite a bit, none of these experiences have been nearly as significant to me as my childhood. I lived in a small, falling apart, purple house in the heart of Bessemer that was perfect because it is all we could afford. This house and neighborhood forced me to be resourceful and it taught me that nothing in my life is going to come without hard work. Those lessons crafted me into the industrious, diligent, and determined person that I am today.…
If I could make a club that would help alleviate people’s frustrations, it would be known as the Luxury Club. Within this club, members get to relieve their stress and frustrations by doing things such as shopping, traveling, and etc. I consider this as luxury, because everyone’s financial capabilities vary, therefore not everyone can afford to shop, travel, or eat at a nice place often. For me, I get frustrated when things don’t go the way I want them to. Shopping helps me relieve this emotion by making me feel like things are going my way whenever I purchase items that I want. In a way, it also makes me feel as though I’m getting my life together when in reality I’m not. Because there are billions of people in the world, I know that there…
As we grow we feel various amounts of emotion every day, and gain experience through the repetitive nature of every day life. Everything we do in life builds upon our experience, which in a sense is one’s individual story. Each story holds its own secrets, and moments of greatness, but regardless of value, they are individual experiences. Experiences shape a person, and without experience, there is a colorless being that lacks wisdom. This is another key to unlock a door to the path of enlightenment, because experience humbles a person, and causes him or her to let go of insecurities and bad…
Throughout this essay, my ideas were clearly stated and consistently supported the topic, thesis, and audience for the paper. I allow the audience to comprehend that like Andre Aciman, I too have items which hold sentimental value and that represent a milestone in my life. In this essay, I parallel my attachment to certain clothing to Aciman attachment and love for the scent of lavender. I back up my statement by describing the fact that a sweater, which was given to me by my grandmother at a very young age, brings me comfort and feelings full of happiness, like the scent of Aciman’s dad’s lavender cologne brings to…
When I was younger, I always wanted a Barbie dollhouse. The Barbie dollhouse was expensive and at least worth a hundred dollars. For my birthday, my parents decided to give me that very Barbie dollhouse. Of course, I was happy but I was only happy for a quick minute and before I knew it, I didn’t know what item I wanted next. This is a situation that many people this day in age face, where they receive something and they don’t know what to do. But, these possessions also have a negative impact on people.…
This experience makes you feel very appreciated in what you have and not to mess things up because then all of…
Albert Einstein once said, “Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value”. Implying that people tend to get blinded in the hunt of personal triumph in their lives that they forget what really is important to them. Similarly, in Alfie Kohn’s How “Not to Get into College”, Daniel Barwick’s “The So Called Iced Cream” and Heron Jones’s Somnambulist, the authors develop the message that people assume that chasing external rewards equals joy and satisfaction in their lives. However, their intentions ultimately lead to temporary happiness, long term problems mainly due to the fact that they expel the thought of intrinsic…