| This question <10|13> overall <11|13> SamHouston: <11|67>. |
| Question 8: Can one say that happiness is the only true wealth? |
| [12] SamHouston: Charles [9] is correct in his view of wealth if looking outside the scope of capitalism. I do not understand much about the Marxian view of capitalism yet, but wealth seems to be measured by way of commodity. Charles takes into account the idea of individual agency to determine happiness. This may be true of individuals but Marx is discussing societies and wealth within the scope of societies. Is happiness the source of true wealth? We can look at this question in two ways. |
| 1) If happiness is measured in terms of commodity (meaning an increase in commodity equals an increase of happiness), and commodity equals wealth (as commodity increases, wealth increases), then it would be fair to say that that happiness equals wealth. |
| 2) If we are speaking of happiness as an individual emotion determined by agency, then the only person to determine wealth would be the individual who determines his or her own happiness level. |
| In the scope of the readings, I would say that happiness (the emotion) is not the only true wealth given the definition of wealth in Annotations as anything that enhances human life. Material wealth only comes from the increase of commodity because it is the commodity (“the thing”) that enhances human life. The enhancement of human life through commodity will lead to happiness. So in capitalism, happiness comes from commodity and is not a determinant of wealth. |
| Hans: Lots of good thinking. In your last paragraph, you originally had “True wealth only comes from the increase of commodity.” I changed it into “material wealth” because there are other forms of wealth which are not material yet still fall under the definition ”something that enchances human life.” For instance, a society with strong family ties and good, safe, and protective neighbohood relations can be considered a wealthy society because of its social relations. |
| The rules are that your first submission in the same homework period is graded, and the second isn't. But since this is just the beginning of the Semester and you many not be familiar with this rule, I am making an exception and am counting this as your graded email, instead of the brief comment [11]. |
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