Dismal scientists are spending more and more time attempting to determine why their beloved system fails to make them happy. As individuals become richer, their degree of contentment doesn't increase. In fact, some surveys show us to be less happy on average now than we were 30 years ago.
After addressing various psychological reasons for this reality, economists have come up with three big thoughts. Firstly, luxuries are only luxuries if they are available only to the chosen few. The nature of consumerism means that, even though what were once luxuries are now generally possessed, we constantly desire what we can't have. Secondly, the infrastructure of a rat race forces people to work harder in their niches to compensate for the work that their competitors may be putting in. This eats into leisure time and results in unhappiness. Thirdly, the stuff that is marketed to us is not worthy of our time or money. Most developments are incremental and there are not enough ground-breaking products to satisfy our needs.
So, they throw their hands up in the air and claim that, in the words of The Economist, "to find the market system wanting because it does not bring joy as well as growth is to place too heavy a burden on it". Really?
Consumerism does not make us happy because it is an addiction - no different in cost and effect than heroin, crack cocaine and nicotine. Addictions provide a short-term high and don't contribute to your overall happiness but merely disguise your underlying unhappiness. Also, there is a global consciousness which, according to Sartre, means that no one is free until everyone is free. The miseries of the Third World prevent us from enjoying the fruits of an abusive system.
John Stuart Mill provides the best description of happiness. "Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness - on the happiness of others; on the improvement of mankind; even on some art or pursuit - followed not as a means but, as itself, an ideal end. Aiming thus at something else, they find happiness by the way".
Altruism, social living and leisure - sounds good to me. Anybody want to buy a second hand Rolex?
