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The Politics of Happiness
The Politics of Happiness by Derek Bok This is the book I am currently reading. I find it exciting and thought provoking.
The opening of Chapter 3:
There are powerful arguments for making happiness a focal point for government policy. Its overriding importance to human beings has been affirmed by influential thinkers from Socrates to John Locke to Sigmund Freud. According to opinion surveys, happiness usually ranks at the top of the goals people hope to achieve, a high regard that should surely count for something in a democratic state. What's more, as indicated in chapter 1, the way to lasting happiness seems to include acts of civic engagement, kindness, and other behaviors far more beneficial to society that an endless pursuit of momentary pleasures and trivial pursuits. In turn, people with high levels of well-being are more likely to be healthy, happily married, effective in their jobs, and civic-minded, generous, and tolerant citizens. If both the causes and effects of happiness are so worthwhile, why wouldn't any sensible government want to shape its policies to help its citizens achieve higher levels of well-being?
_________________ " How we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used." - Wendell Berry, What Are People For?
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child — our own two eyes. All is a miracle.” -Thich Nhat Hahn
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Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 2638 Images: 5 Location: Round Hill, VA
Thanks: 270 Thanked: 215 times in 172 posts
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Re: The Politics of Happiness
Again, I have to say how thought provoking Bok's analysis is of the role of government in supporting the pursuit of happiness by its citizenry. I highly recommend this book!
By the end of chapter 2 Bok has already concluded that it is the duty of a government to spend some of its energy on creating legislation that is aimed at increasing the happiness of its citizenry. In chapter 3 he asks a question that anyone paying attention to Capitol Hill and all of the scientific studies on climate change must be asking. In creating regulations and policy, should law makers bow to the prevailing sentiments of their constituency, their own beliefs, scientific research, or some combination? As a lawmaker, what do you do when what the voters want is in direct conflict with scientific consensus? Bok is asking the question in relation to Happiness. It turns out that people have many misconceptions about what makes them happy. In fact, generally speaking, people are terrible at predicting what will and won't make them happy.
So, what is a hardworking, well meaning, legislator to do?
_________________ " How we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used." - Wendell Berry, What Are People For?
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child — our own two eyes. All is a miracle.” -Thich Nhat Hahn
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