Quote:
|
Originally Posted by theapportioner
A system that gives people the freedom to choose their happiness gives people the freedom to abuse others'.
|
This is an unfortunate side effect of liberty. But, like you said, we have a legal system set up to keep others from encroaching upon our freedoms.
Quote:
|
And there is no reason whatsoever why people who currently take happiness in the form of material wealth could not find happiness by other means. What makes us happy is not set in stone. I repeat: our ideas of what gives us pleasure derive from the societies in which we live, and the circumstances currently surrounding us.
|
I think you've grossly underestimated the role of fulfillment of instinct in pleasure. You may have taken the dialectical materialism a little too far.
Quote:
|
Capitalism is never about optimizing social happiness. It is about making money. It will be able to accomplish the former only when our society has been fully shaped to accept the acquisition of material wealth as religion.
|
Thing is? That's a simplistic view. Few people choose to make money as an end in itself. The money either is used to represent status, buy pleasurable things, or (of course) attract a mate.
Quote:
|
Even slaves can learn to be happy.
|
I couldn't disagree more. Captivity will never be satisfying to any animal, and we're no exception.