Happiness was once understood as a communal project tied to justice and shared flourishing, our Ethicist columnist writes, but over time, it evolved into something individual and small.
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
The things that really make us happy - community support, authentic relationships, creative expression - are far harder to monetize than individual consumption. Modern capitalism pushes us to degrade our most important values in the name of profit.
I agree w/your Ethicist, Joanne Joo, but what we are seeing as toxic selfish individualism, IMHO, is also tied to rise of the “Prosperity Gospel”, & the rise of the rich televangelist in a lot of RW Christian churches as well as with classism & the “Southern Strategy” & lack of empathy for the other
Really? And who, exactly, was happy then? This sounds like the nonsense people trot about how wonderful the 1950s were. The 1950s were only wonderful for a tiny handful of the population: white heterosexual men. For everyone else, it was truly horrible.
True happiness comes from giving, sharing, and widening your circle to include others. In a society that’s become more isolated and self-focused, it’s no surprise that so many feel lost, sad, or angry.
Agreed. Think we need more promotion of service opportunities - get people away from a screen for an hour or two a week, around kind-hearted people while actively bettering local communities
It's become small due to the rise in the feeling of self-entitlement. Much of the blame lies in technology (Internet, social media). Self-entitlement flourished, beginning with Gingrich, and exploded under the despot. Propriety is no longer important, and the notion that others don't matter rules.
Perhaps had the NYT not spent the last decade platforming and sanewashing the most cruel people possible, who explicitly stated they derive joy from cruelty to others, we wouldn't be here.
It's what 'Murica wants isn't it? To be "individual" and "small." Unless of course it's Liberal-hunting time then it becomes a sheeplike bleating posse.
And just to think, you single-handedly played a leading role in bringing this about. You and Maggie have spent years building up a serial pedophile/rapist. Your founders must be so proud to see how you've helped destroy happiness in this country.
In other news, admiration for Hitler was once understood as disqualifying for a U.S. presidential candidate, but by 2024 it was understood to be normal and unworthy of comment.
When happiness shrinks to personal comfort, injustice thrives unnoticed.
Maybe that’s the point: A distracted citizen is a compliant one.
Real joy isn’t comfort in isolation...it’s shared dignity. Flourishing together.
"Hitler tamed by Prison" NYT,1924. I wonder if you think living through WW3 could deepen grattitude for wonderbread without mold in the survivors or what, but honestly i´d rather not and perhaps it´s the wrong time to talk about deeper joy and hapiness when people struggle enough with not panicking
Comments
If our feelings are more important than the civil and social welfare of all life, we end up with billionaires, and school shootings/child abuse.
If we mature through self, & #unite in healthy reform, we can stop abuse.
I guess I should have subscribed earlier. Not that I'm subscribed now. But it would have made me happy. Apparently.
And all the fucking text bro s
Maybe that’s the point: A distracted citizen is a compliant one.
Real joy isn’t comfort in isolation...it’s shared dignity. Flourishing together.
The alternative is Fascism.