Me: Dude, this study question is killing me.
-Hypothetical Friend (I swear he's not imaginary): Well, throw it at me. I can probably help.
This crazy tutor of mine wants me to define well-being...
-That's not too bad at all, that's actually kind of easy...
Oh really now, care to explain?
-Well, well-being could be considered all the benefits a person has.
Woah, woah, woah. There's already so many things wrong with that. How would you define benefit? Is it something that makes a person emotionally happy... or maybe physically healthy... or spiritually fulfilled...?
-Okay, I see your point. How about, just for convenience's sake, we say all of the above. Well-being is the accumulation of all the benefits.
That still leaves a problem though... What about things that take away from one and contribute to another?
-Elaborate.
Well take for example getting really drunk and having a good time, yeah like last night, that harms your body physically, I mean I still have a headache, but it was a great time.
-Huh, uhm, well you got me there bud... Okay, let's try again. Well-being is a state where the overall benefits outweigh the cons.
I immediately see a problem with how you can quantify one benefit to outweigh one con, how would you measure one over another? Is happiness worth more than health or is it the other way around?
-You can't be serious, why are you asking me?
This is your definition dude! How do you measure benefit?
-I guess you could measure it in the stuff you buy right?
Oh so money is happiness then...
-That's not what I said! Health could be measured in the money you spend on maintaining it couldn't it?
Oh so you're saying that someone who can't pay for their healthcare is healthier than the millionaire who pays for peak physical condition?
-No. Okay so maybe it wouldn't work in this world, but in theory it would!
Alright fine, let's just assume the world is perfect... big assumption but fine... You're still saying you can measure happiness in material wealth.
-Well can you not? You need certain things to survive, that could be the baseline. Everything past that must make you more emotionally happy, otherwise why would you buy it?
Dude, you have to be kidding. So the enlightened Buddhist monk is less fulfilled than the wall street billionaire who lies and cheats his way to the top?
-We were talking about emotional happiness... Not personal fulfillment
Aren't they very closely connected? You cannot have one without the other, and there is no way you can measure fulfillment with money.
-Yeah, you're right. I guess well-being is more than money
Well don't be too hard on yourself, you brought up a good point. Money makes a big difference in your quality of life, and that naturally makes a difference in your well-being. You simply forgot the things in life that aren't quantifiable. Happiness, emotional health, personal satisfaction and fulfillment all play a role in the individual's well being.
Very interesting and fun...
ReplyDelete