Laying Blame: Population vs. Consumption

[NoOneMan]

33. Are they the authority on human happiness?

Last edited Tue Jan 15, 2013, 02:11 AM - Edit history (1)

things were much worse fifty years ago

Fifty years after the dark ages, things were probably "much better" than during. Were they better at that point than any time previously in human history?

So, considering all "progress", are we happier now than before agrarian society (to such a point to justify our ecological breakdown)? I've asked that a few times.

If we look at groups that anthropologists say live like we did 10K years ago (like the Hadza), are we on average happier than them?

Production doesn't cause climate change; atmospheric carbon dioxide causes climate change.

Yep, and are you trying to say production doesn't generate atmospheric carbon?

a personal definition that's impossible to prove

This entire line of thought is "impossible to prove". It doesn't mean it isn't worth discussing. Apparently, no one wants to discuss it. Shouldn't we discuss if we are moving toward more happiness (whatever that means?)? Shouldn't we define happiness? Or are we just calling it "well-being" and figuring in things like GDP per capita?

In many ways, its meant to be a personal question. We all have different views of it. Can we all absolutely state that on average humans are happier than before civilization or any other time in human civilization? If we cannot, can we all absolutely state we are making "progress" according to a standard that is relevant to mankind?

Ultimately, a great question is: is climate change worth all our "progress". In 50 years, will our answer be the same?