For example, you make a new friend. That makes you feel happy. A year or so later your friendship is less of a source of perceived happiness than the 'new normal'. Then you have a bust-up with your friend. You've now become even more unhappy than you were before you became friends. Ergo your standard of happiness has adapted to the changed circumstances.
It's not just biological processes which are subject to homeostasis. It's also your emotions, including happiness. As any junkie can tell you, if you want to maintain your level of happiness you have to keep increasing the dose of whatever makes you happy. There's limits to that.
As for the Declaration I was in no way endorsing it, just pointing out its authors weren't silly enough to say "All men have a right to happiness". Of course that standard has also changed after a century of consumerist mass marketing and many people now believe they *do* have a right to happiness; usually via rewarding themselves with the latest piece of worthless tat.
Nah. It's obvious if you think about it.
For example, you make a new friend. That makes you feel happy. A year or so later your friendship is less of a source of perceived happiness than the 'new normal'. Then you have a bust-up with your friend. You've now become even more unhappy than you were before you became friends. Ergo your standard of happiness has adapted to the changed circumstances.
It's not just biological processes which are subject to homeostasis. It's also your emotions, including happiness. As any junkie can tell you, if you want to maintain your level of happiness you have to keep increasing the dose of whatever makes you happy. There's limits to that.
As for the Declaration I was in no way endorsing it, just pointing out its authors weren't silly enough to say "All men have a right to happiness". Of course that standard has also changed after a century of consumerist mass marketing and many people now believe they *do* have a right to happiness; usually via rewarding themselves with the latest piece of worthless tat.
Ok. In your first post it was like you were speaking of money (never enough...).