Happiness and the Limits of Satisfaction

1996 Philosophy

Author : Deal Wyatt Hudson
Release : 1996
Genre : Philosophy
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 402/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK

Book Synopsis Happiness and the Limits of Satisfaction by : Deal Wyatt Hudson

Download or read book Happiness and the Limits of Satisfaction written by Deal Wyatt Hudson. This book was released on 1996. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In classical and medieval times, happiness was defined as 'well-being, ' a notion that included moral goodness. Today happiness is most often defined as 'well-feeling, ' and identified with subjective states such as satisfaction and peace of mind. Deal Hudson argues that the prevailing view is dangerous in politics as well as ethics, creating individuals with no other sense of obligation than finding personal satisfaction, regardless of the moral and spiritual cost to themselves and others. Hudson calls for a return to the classical tradition: no one should be called 'happy' who cannot also be called morally good. However, a contemporary version of happiness should also go beyond the classical notion by making room in the happy life for suffering and passion. Using the history of the idea of happiness as a backdrop to a critique of contemporary views, Hudson examines happiness from philosophical, religious, psychological, sociological, literary, and political points of view--for example, he shows how the tension between the two definitions of happiness is at the heart of the Declaration of Independence. The result is an excellent overview of the history of an idea as well as a compelling argument for moral and political change in our time.

Limits to Satisfaction

1988 Business & Economics

Author : William Leiss
Release : 1988
Genre : Business & Economics
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 886/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK

Book Synopsis Limits to Satisfaction by : William Leiss

Download or read book Limits to Satisfaction written by William Leiss. This book was released on 1988. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At a time when the supply of resources is a problem, William Leiss analyses demand and consumption. Why do we need so much? Does the ability to choose from such a wide range of commodities give us more satisfaction? Why do we accept being pushed into buying products about which we know little because they promise to give us a particular characteristic - freshness, happiness, sex appeal?

Happiness Quantified

2007-12-27 Business & Economics

Author : Bernard van Praag
Release : 2007-12-27
Genre : Business & Economics
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 738/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK

Book Synopsis Happiness Quantified by : Bernard van Praag

Download or read book Happiness Quantified written by Bernard van Praag. This book was released on 2007-12-27. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How do we measure happiness? Focusing on subjective measures as a proxy for welfare and well-being, this book finds ways to do that. Subjective measures have been used by psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, and, more recently, economists to answer a variety of scientifically and politically relevant questions. Van Praag, a pioneer in this field since 1971, and Ferrer-i-Carbonell present in this book a generally applicable methodology for the analysis of subjective satisfaction. Drawing on a range of surveys on people's satisfaction with their jobs, income, housing, marriages, and government policy, among other areas of life, this book shows how satisfaction with life "as a whole" is an aggregate of these domain satisfactions. Using German, British, Dutch, and Russian data, the authors cover a wide range of topics, even some not usually considered part of economic study. The book makes a distinction between actual satisfaction levels and individual norms, and in this way complements Van Praag's earlier work within the Leyden School with his later work in "happiness research". Among the many topics covered, the authors discuss: individuals' memory and anticipation processes and the estimation of adaptation phenomena (how individuals adapt to changing circumstances); the effect of reference groups on income norms and satisfaction with income; the importance of climate for well-being, including the development of a climate-equivalence index; the trade-offs between chronic diseases and income when well-being is kept constant; the damage of aircraft noise on well-being; the construction of a new talent tax tariff; and inequality from a satisfaction perspective, including the definition of "satisfaction inequalities", a natural extension of income inequality and poverty. This groundbreaking book presents new and fruitful methodology that consitutes a welcome addition to the social sciences.

Happiness and Economics

2010-11-16 Business & Economics

Author : Bruno S. Frey
Release : 2010-11-16
Genre : Business & Economics
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 267/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK

Book Synopsis Happiness and Economics by : Bruno S. Frey

Download or read book Happiness and Economics written by Bruno S. Frey. This book was released on 2010-11-16. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Curiously, economists, whose discipline has much to do with human well-being, have shied away from factoring the study of happiness into their work. Happiness, they might say, is an ''unscientific'' concept. This is the first book to establish empirically the link between happiness and economics--and between happiness and democracy. Two respected economists, Bruno S. Frey and Alois Stutzer, integrate insights and findings from psychology, where attempts to measure quality of life are well-documented, as well as from sociology and political science. They demonstrate how micro- and macro-economic conditions in the form of income, unemployment, and inflation affect happiness. The research is centered on Switzerland, whose varying degrees of direct democracy from one canton to another, all within a single economy, allow for political effects to be isolated from economic effects. Not surprisingly, the authors confirm that unemployment and inflation nurture unhappiness. Their most striking revelation, however, is that the more developed the democratic institutions and the degree of local autonomy, the more satisfied people are with their lives. While such factors as rising income increase personal happiness only minimally, institutions that facilitate more individual involvement in politics (such as referendums) have a substantial effect. For countries such as the United States, where disillusionment with politics seems to be on the rise, such findings are especially significant. By applying econometrics to a real-world issue of general concern and yielding surprising results, Happiness and Economics promises to spark healthy debate over a wide range of the social sciences.

Happiness and the Good Life

2012-03 Philosophy

Author : Mike W. Martin
Release : 2012-03
Genre : Philosophy
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 212/5 ( reviews)

GET EBOOK

Book Synopsis Happiness and the Good Life by : Mike W. Martin

Download or read book Happiness and the Good Life written by Mike W. Martin. This book was released on 2012-03. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Philosopher Mike W. Martin here examines the meaning of happiness by connecting it to the philosophical notion of "the good life."

Popular eBooks

Happiness and the Limits of Satisfaction

Limits to Satisfaction

Happiness Quantified

Happiness and Economics

Happiness and the Good Life

You may also like...