Are Rich People More Likely to Be Happy?
The Same Old Popular Philosophy Debate
Much is passionately said, argued and discussed on the ability of material wealth, shortly of money to bring us, facilitate for us, or even automatically lead us towards happiness. This is perhaps one of the most popular philosophical questions of our current times, and it has almost certainly been so for millennia throughout the whole world.
Those who are sure when answering that “it does bring happiness”, immediately present a list of frustrations of all kinds, which are only overcome by that “clinking clanking sound which can make the world go around”. [Liza Minelli, in Cabaret, 1972]
They are criticized by those who respond otherwise: “rich people can be extremely unhappy, in certain situations where money can’t help anything.”
During one of these discussions, quite polarized, which I witnessed without taking a stance, an old lady supporting of “yes, money brings happiness” arrogantly made a comment intended to exhaust the discussion:
“Okay, arguing with stubborn people is a waste of time! Therefore, in order only to make you happy, I proclaim you the winners, and I suggest that all the money eventually coming to your hands be transferred to my Swiss Bank account in Zürich. Good Bye, and BE HAPPY!!!”
Of course, no one followed Ms. Smarty’s advice. I do not even believe that her emotional sophistry had any impact on her opponents.
Attempting a Wittgenstein-style analysis to solve the semantic mess of this debate, I came to a simple conclusion:
There is a pernicious linguistic confusion about the concept of Happiness!
Money certainly turns it easier for us the occurrence of joyful moments, but even a big uninterrupted series of joys cannot be confused with happiness.
So, this seems to me to be on the root of so much time wasted on the above mentioned frequent wordy quarrels with the usual loss of good humor between the opponents.
Whoever takes stances on philosophical discussions, must clearly define their concepts first, in order to speak a same language as other eventual participants.
